When Jesus walked on earth almost 2,000 years ago a lawyer asked Him a question. The Gospel of Matthew records, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:36–40 NASB)
From this scripture passage, we see how important it is for us to love God and our neighbors. But how are we to love God and our neighbors? As always, we should look to scripture for the answer. The Gospel of John records, “He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him.” (John 14:21 NASB)
Being obedient to God’s commandments are how we are to show our love for Him and our fellow mankind. Jesus during His 3 ? years of ministry taught us how we are to live, how we are to follow God’s commands. Jesus is our example.
The Apostle Paul wrote to the church in Philippi, “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:5-8 NASB)
As Christians we are to be Christlike. When people see how we act, how we treat others, they should see Christ in us. The Apostle Paul wrote to the church in Rome, “Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:1-2 NASB)
When people see you as a Christian do they see any difference in how you live your life compared to your non-Christians neighbors? Is the only difference that you go to Church on Sundays, and they don’t? Too many Christians have conformed to the world, they are more worried about living a life filled with comfort, ease, material possessions and acceptance of the world.
We are called to be obedient to God by following His commandments. We need to life our faith out each and every day. Look to Jesus, follow His example, be obedient to our Heavenly Father.
Pastor Timothy Hammond
Oak Street Baptist Church
