Some neighbors are so easy to love. Others, not so much. Those latter are the ones that truly test us and our devotion to God. I have failed that test so many times, putting my own willful 'right' to distain them over His direction to love them. I'm making progress, but it has been slow. This is such a challenge. Thanks, MAGULQ.
I often think that Galatians 5:14, or John 13:34 - 12:35, should be the WHOLE of the Bible.
THAT Bible would fit on a 3 X 5 card, or on the two sides of a business card.
At the least, these versus about the importance of love should be placed at the start of the good book with the admonition that anything which stands AGAINST the meaning of those verses does not belong.
Much else in the Bible has been used to bad ends, or led to confusion. But not, I think, the verses about loving one's fellow human beings.
John: 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. **
"For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another." Galatians 5:13
The preceeding verse explains how our freedom in Christ is based on our ability to love one another...when we treat our neighbor with the love of Christ it is demonstrating our love and obedience to God, which is the first commandment.
Of course this reminds me of 1 Corinthians 13...such a clear definition of love...this truly is the essence of Christianity...love God...then love others...
1 Corinthians 13 KJV
13 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
Love my neighbors but that dude three houses down sucks ass. J/k this is a wonderful and profound verse. A distillation of God's Word that is easy to memorize and spread to others. (Also- but isnt that more than one word, even in that? Kek j/k we love You God.)
Thank you for posting this, MAGULQ.
Love is the opposite of evil.
Also, love is what we are made for.
Encouraging people to cultivate their healthy, natural love for others is as important as waking people up to how much evil has infested this world.
Too little love and too much corruption are connected; they are to some extent two sides of the same coin.
The Great Awakening is not just about seeing Evil for what it is -- it is about waking up to the decency and love within ourselves.
Some neighbors are so easy to love. Others, not so much. Those latter are the ones that truly test us and our devotion to God. I have failed that test so many times, putting my own willful 'right' to distain them over His direction to love them. I'm making progress, but it has been slow. This is such a challenge. Thanks, MAGULQ.
I often think that Galatians 5:14, or John 13:34 - 12:35, should be the WHOLE of the Bible.
THAT Bible would fit on a 3 X 5 card, or on the two sides of a business card.
At the least, these versus about the importance of love should be placed at the start of the good book with the admonition that anything which stands AGAINST the meaning of those verses does not belong.
Much else in the Bible has been used to bad ends, or led to confusion. But not, I think, the verses about loving one's fellow human beings.
I think of it like a shot of biblical everclear
The flaw in this approach is if you can convince people to hate themselves (see Trans) then they will treat their neighbours accordingly.
"For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another." Galatians 5:13
The preceeding verse explains how our freedom in Christ is based on our ability to love one another...when we treat our neighbor with the love of Christ it is demonstrating our love and obedience to God, which is the first commandment.
Of course this reminds me of 1 Corinthians 13...such a clear definition of love...this truly is the essence of Christianity...love God...then love others...
1 Corinthians 13 KJV
13 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
Love my neighbors but that dude three houses down sucks ass. J/k this is a wonderful and profound verse. A distillation of God's Word that is easy to memorize and spread to others. (Also- but isnt that more than one word, even in that? Kek j/k we love You God.)