Daily Dose 12-6-11

2 John 1:4-6 (MSG) I can't tell you how happy I am to learn that many members of your congregation are diligent in living out the Truth, exactly as commanded by the Father. But permit me a reminder, friends, and this is not a new commandment but simply a repetition of our original and basic charter: that we love each other. Love means following his commandments, and his unifying commandment is that you conduct your lives in love. This is the first thing you heard, and nothing has changed.

The more you read scripture, the more the common thread is revealed. It’s all about love! We talk about the Old Law as simply one of rules, regulations and sacrifices. However, throughout the Old Testament, God begged His people to return their hearts to Him. Their offerings of burnt sacrifices meant nothing to Him when their hearts weren’t seared with a deep love for Him. The sacrifice of Jesus was meant to do two things: be the ultimate sacrifice, one time, for all mankind to be reconciled to God, and, to demonstrate God’s immense love for us so we can show that love to one another. We have brains and interpret scripture to conduct our lives as closely as we can to what we read. However, God intends for us to use our hearts to put that knowledge into action. It begins by loving our fellow-believers first and genuinely. The idea is that when non-believers see the love we have for one another, they will want to have it as well. How are we doing? Does the love we demonstrate make others long for the love of Christ? Or, does it set Him and His church up for ridicule?

Father, Let me not profess my love for You without acting in love toward others as You would have me do. Amen