Today, we honor God with our time. The more I have a better knowledge Him, the more I realize I needed Him to save me, not only from hell but my fallen way(s) of thinking. Years and years have gone by since I first was saved, yet I am reminded of how good He was to me in those times I needed Him the most. I am thankful that He “so loved the world” enough to send a perfect Son to die for me. Jesus paid the price, He gave us the right to become sons and daughters (John 1:12–13 ) yet we must not forget who we are supposed to love. Just a small reminder that the world needs a savior, and some might even reject our message and witness; nonetheless, we must share this truth—He loved us enough to die for us. Some within the church might divide us from the world and yes during our personal walk with the Lord we must work out our salvation, walk in the spirit, but this does not mean drawing the line where we cannot reach the world with our message. I am reminded of scripture and what Jesus did in this fallen world. Yes, the synagogues (the churches, the buildings, the fellowship, etc.…) were a part of His ministry, but so was going into the world. He spent time talking with people, witnessing to people (He showed them how He lived), and Jesus enjoyed life doing these things (if He wanted us to have joy, I believe He had and has joy). Let us not forget to love our neighbor and have joy walking the way God intended us to walk—in victory (overcoming all the works of the enemy which includes dividing us from God as well as dividing us from others).
Godnote: Notice Mark 12:31 does not say, “Love the saved as yourself?”
John 3:16–17 (NKJV)16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
John 1:12–13 (NKJV)12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
Galatians 5:22–25 (NKJV)22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Galatians 5:22–26 (NKJV)22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
John 15:11 (NKJV)11 “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.
1 John 4:4–6 (NKJV)4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 5 They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them. 6 We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
1 John 5:4–5 (NKJV)4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5 Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
Mark 12:28–31 (NKJV)28 Then one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, perceiving that He had answered them well, asked Him, “Which is the first commandment of all?” 29 Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. 31 And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
Romans 13:8–10 (NKJV)8 Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9 For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.