THE TRUE MEASURE OF LOVE IS SACRIFICE FOR THE SAKE OF OTHERS

16th JANUARY 2021

“To one he gave five talents, to another two talents, and to another one talent—each according to his own ability. And he promptly went on his journey” – Matthew 25:16

Often, we hear people say, I love God. At other times, we hear preachers telling their congregations to love God. How do we express love to God? Asked another way, if you were to express love to God, what exactly would you be doing? In the first place, God is spirit and invisible. Therefore, God cannot be loved. You can’t even see Him; so how do you express love to someone you cannot see. But the spirit of God finds expression in man. We must therefore see the face of God in every human being. In any event, the scripture says we are made in the image and likeness of God. This in essence refers to the spiritual essence of God in us. In order to pass the test of loving God, we have to translate “loving God” to loving our fellow human beings. Three times the Master asked Peter; “Do you love me”? Three times Peter answered, “yes Lord, you know all things, and you know that I love thee”) But Jesus was fast to add; “then feed my sheep” (John 21:16). By that, the Master revealed that only through the act of service to others can we truly demonstrate our love for God. It would appear, therefore, that, on judgment day, our works of service, will be recalled and examined as a basis of gaining eternal life in heaven. The word of God today introduces us to a two – in – one commandment of God. Jesus says all the commandments are summarized in these two commandments. Number 1 is that we have to love God with our soul and entire being. Number 2 is that we have to love our neighbour as ourselves. To love God with our soul and everything is to be ready to make a sacrifice – up to the point of death on behalf of others, all for the sake of God. To love your neighbours as yourself does not mean that you have to first love yourself before you think of loving another. But that verse simply teaches that you must first, put yourself in the condition of others, and then decide whether what you are doing to them is good enough for you if you were to be in their situation. In other words, put yourself in the shoes of others! The eternal life we seek in heaven as Christians will elude us if we are unable to obey these two – in – one commandment of God (Matthew 25:35-40). This is because admission into heaven will be conducted on the basis of how much love you gave to others! (Matthew 25:35-40). Also on earth, you reap the quantity of love you extend to others! As you sow, so you reap!

PRAYERS

Father in the name of Jesus Christ, I thank you for your word, for I am strengthened by it. Father, today I receive strength to overcome every weakness that would not enable me to express pure love and affection to others. AMEN.

FURTHER READING: Matthew 25:35-40