Herald of maranatha:
Daily devotional
Topic: The Love Jesus teaches 2.
1 Corinthians 13:3 KJV
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.
In this love Jesus teaches as the greatest of all commandments, the love for God comes first and is most important.
Can I love God without loving my neighbors?
No, if you love God you will love men created in His image.
"1 John 4:20-21 KJV
If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? [21] And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also."
Only those who love God can actually love their neighbors.
A lot of people now try to solicit humanitarian service as opposed to the love for God, saying "give what should be used to advance the work of God to the poor, they need it more".
"John 12:5 KJV
Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?"
Can I love God without loving my neighbors?
No, if you love God you will love men created in His image.
"1 John 4:20-21 KJV
If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? [21] And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also."
Only those who love God can actually love their neighbors.
A lot of people now try to solicit humanitarian service as opposed to the love for God, saying "give what should be used to advance the work of God to the poor, they need it more".
"John 12:5 KJV
Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?"
Love is not a show of liberality to men, otherwise Judas should be regarded as the most reasonable and loving, of the disciples, but he was regarded as a thief.
"John 12:6 KJV
This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein."
Anyone who claims to love men without demonstrating a deep love for God, he's a thief, just as anyone who claims to love God without loving men is a liar.
Love for man is beyond just feeding the hungry and housing the homeless, even politicians do these, it is rather bringing man into the will of God. From our text we see how feeding the poor and housing the homeless might not be love. Jesus who is Love Himself said:
"Matthew 11:5 KJV
The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them."
Jesus also gave to the needy but that wasn't His priority in life.
Jesus did not die for poverty alleviation, so helping the needy should be our normal lifestyle nothing to glory in, the gospel is the ultimate demonstration of love even to the poor.
"Matthew 11:5 KJV
The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them."
Jesus also gave to the needy but that wasn't His priority in life.
Jesus did not die for poverty alleviation, so helping the needy should be our normal lifestyle nothing to glory in, the gospel is the ultimate demonstration of love even to the poor.
Prayer: Father help me to genuinely love you with my whole heart.
Remain blessed
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