Let Us LOVE with a Pure Heart
“For this is the message
which you have heard from the beginning,
that we are to love one another;”
(1 John 3: 11 NASB)
We are to love God with everything we are—Everything!
We are to love God first!
- We are to love God with all our heart!
- We are to love God with all our strength!
- We are to love God with all our mind!
- We are to love God with all our soul!
THEN, we are to love every other person in this world—as MUCH as we love OURSELVES!
Pretty simple right?!!!
Not especially.
The second part seems to get us every time.
There’s the rub. If we do not love others as much as we love ourselves, how in the world can we proclaim that we love God with all our heart, strength, mind, & soul? We Cannot!
- If we love God FIRST with our entire being, then Everything else will line up as it should.
- If we love God FIRST with our entire being, then we will love our neighbors, our co-workers, our friends, our family, and even our enemies—as we should.
Pretty straightforward.
It’s a heart attitude.
It’s a condition that begins within our hearts.
“For this is the message
which you have heard from the beginning,
that we are to love one another;
not as Cain, who was of the evil one [the devil] and murdered his brother.
And for what reason did he murder him?
Because of his own deeds were evil, [?]
but his brother’s [Abel’s deeds] were righteous.”
(1 John 3: 11-12 NASB)
God has given us a pretty simple task: Love Him & then Love Others as we love our own selves.
Cain had a brother, someone he grew up with, someone who knew him well. They knew one another’s weakness and strengths. They ate meals together, seated (maybe) side-by-side, sharing the same food. They came from the same parents (Adam & Eve). They knew one another’s like and dislikes, hobbies, and passions. Cain & Able were REAL people who lived a life, just as we do.
So, how could one brother suddenly murder his own brother?
It was a heart attitude.
It was a condition that began within Cain’s heart.
Pretty straightforward.
The Bible tells us how jealousy was planted into Cain’s heart, and we know the father of deceit, of lies, and of ill-thoughts. He has a name—Satan—the devil—the deceiver—Lucifer!
“Cain, who was of the evil one [the devil] and murdered his brother.”
And for what reason did he murder him?”
(1 John 3: 12a NASB)
Consider for a moment, a regular day, one where we arise, dress, work, eat, return home, & sleep. A normal day, one given by God for us to enjoy & know.
Now, consider a regular day, one focused upon God, one where we love God first. Consider a day: we arise, pray, read God’s Word, dress, work, witness to others, eat, love others as ourselves, return home, love our family as we love ourselves, & then pray, thanking God for the good day only He can give as we drift off to sleep. A normal day, one given by God for us to enjoy & know.
Which does God expect from His children?
“And for what reason did he murder him?
Because of his own deeds were evil,
but his brother’s [Abel’s deeds] were righteous.”
(1 John 3: 12 NASB)
- Let us not be a Cain.
- Let us not conceive murder in our heart.
- Let us not become jealous.
- Let us not allow the evil one, the devil, to plant seeds of deceit into our being.
- Let us LOVE GOD—First & Foremost!
- Then, let us Love Others as much as we love ourselves!
Jesus Christ, Himself, commands this of us, God’s children!
Let Us LOVE with a Pure Heart.
“And He said to him, [Jesus said in response to a lawyer who asked him a question, trying to trick & trap Jesus]
‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’
This is the great and foremost commandment.
The second is like it, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.”
Upon these two commandments hang the whole Law and the Prophets.’ ”
(Matthew 22: 37-40 NASB)
HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my dear husband.
Throughout the years, you have reminded me how we are to LOVE God first!
You have shown to me the LOVE of God as Christ demonstrated to us.
Throughout our time together, you remind me daily how to love and care for others as ourselves.
May Your Day Be Blessed.