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In the previous series, “Why We Can’t Love” I discussed the many heart issues that block our ability to love others. In this series, we are going to look at how we can keep ourselves flowing in the love of God. There may be some overlap as these topics are closely related. Consider this series as practical application of what was covered previously plus some additional stuff also.
Please turn with me to Matthew 22:34-40
Mattew 22:34-40 But hearing that He had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees were gathered together. Then one of them, a lawyer, asked, tempting Him and saying, Master, which is the great commandment in the Law? Jesus 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 first and great commandment. And the second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.
Notice that loving God with all of your heart, all of your soul and all of your mind is the greatest of the commandments according to Jesus. Notice also that it doesn’t say we are to follow God. It says we are to LOVE God with everything that is in us. The difference is one of relationship. If we are simply following after God, then we are living as servants or slaves and just following the rules of the master. If we love God with everything that is in us, then we are living as sons (and daughters) and we seek to please Him, not out of fear, but because of our great love for Him. This is considered the greatest commandment because it is from THIS relationship that we are able to fulfill the second commandment which is loving our neighbor as ourselves. In other words, before we can love those in front of us, we must love He who is above us all.
Going Vertical
I can tell you with absolutely no hesitation that your relationship with God is the single most important relationship you will ever have. This relationship not only governs things in this life, but also for eternity. Let’s take a look at Matthew 7:21-23
Matthew 7:21-23 Not everyone who says to Me, Lord! Lord! shall enter the kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in Heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, Lord! Lord! Did we not prophesy in Your name, and through Your name throw out demons, and through Your name do many wonderful works? And then I will say to them I never knew you! Depart from Me, those working lawlessness!
Read that carefully. Not everyone shall enter… But he who does the will of my Father in Heaven. What is the will of the Father? If it wasn’t prophesying, or casting out demons, or doing wonderful works in Jesus name, then what is it that the Father wills? My friend, it is relationship. He wants to know you and he wants you to know Him. Look again at those last two sentences:
And then I will say to them I never knew you! Depart from Me, those working lawlessness!
I’ve underlined those two phrases to emphasize a point. Look carefully at this: I never knew you = those working lawlessness. I’m not the one who linked those together, Jesus did. This is that “Great Commandment” that we read about a moment ago. The principal at work here is simple. If you don’t know Him, you cannot love your neighbor as yourself. If you DO know and love Him, then you are empowered to love your neighbor as yourself because you live to please Him who loves you. You won’t be coveting your neighbor’s wife. You won’t be stealing. You won’t be committing adultery. You won’t be doing any of these things. This is why Jesus said in Matthew 22:40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.
I can hear it already, “that’s old covenant stuff.” Is it? Paul didn’t think so. Let’s go to Romans 13:8-10
Romans 13:8-10 Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for he who loves another has fulfilled the Law. For: “Do not commit adultery; do not murder; do not steal; do not bear false witness; do not lust;” and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this word, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love works no ill to its neighbor, therefore love is the fulfilling of the Law.
Galatians 5: 13-14
Galatians 5:13 For, brothers, you were called to liberty. Only do not use the liberty for an opening to the flesh, but by love serve one another. For all the Law is fulfilled in one word, even in this, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
And apparently James didn’t think so either. Let’s take a look at James 2:8
James 2:8 If you fulfill the royal Law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well.
My friend, this “Royal Law” of love is the way of the kingdom and it involves loving and being loved. First, is the vertical relationship with God in which we love Him and we allow ourselves to be loved by Him. Second, is the horizontal relationship with others, where we love others and allow ourselves to be loved by them.
So, this begs the question: How is your relationship with Him? Does He seem distant to you? Are you able to hear his voice? Take a moment to consider those questions carefully. The reason this is important, is because you can’t give to others what you have never fully received yourself. If He seems distant and/or you have difficulty hearing Him, then we have uncovered a problem. If this is you, then I have another question for 
you: How do you view God? Do you view Him as a loving Father? Or is he more like the guy in the photograph, who can’t wait to zap you for the slightest infraction of the “rules?” If you view Him as the latter, then this is why He would seem distant to you, because He isn’t like that at all. Here’s the truth about God. He is a loving father that cares about you far more than you realize. He loves you intensely and He wants a relationship with you. You were created with a purpose in mind and He wants you to fulfill that purpose. If your view of Him is less than this, then something has gotten off track somewhere. In many cases, this stems from father issues in a person’s childhood. If that is you, then this article may help you.
I think I’m going to stop here for today. Next time, we’ll look at the horizontal aspects which is of course, loving others. Before we part, I would be remiss if I didn’t remind you once again of God’s amazing love for you. If you don’t know Him at all or if you seem to be apart from Him for whatever reason, all it takes is one moment of heartfelt prayer to make things right. There are no magical words. There is no special prayer that you have to repeat over and over. All that is required is a humble heart crying out to a loving God and simply saying “I need you. Please come into my life.” The words you choose are less important than the heart behind those words. He knows who you are and how you speak. So, say what is in your heart.
Until next time, may God’s richest blessings be yours in Christ. I pray also that you have a truly blessed Thanksgiving holiday.
Copyright (C) 2019 M. Unruh
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