The red rose especially is symbolic of love - a gift to give to your sweetheart or wife. At least that is very true in America. This article will concern itself with the subject of LOVE - specifically love for God and neighbor.
"And Jesus answered him: The first of all the commandments is, Hear O Israel, the LORD our God is one LORD: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these." - Mark 12:29-31
The first thought that popped into my mind as I typed the above words of Jesus was : There is so little love in the world today! I remember when I was young and as an adult, how people were more loving and friendly. Driving down country roads, perfect strangers would wave at you in your car from their car as you drove past them, and people on their front porches - again, perfect strangers - would wave at you as well as you drove past their house ! This was in the deep south, true, and Southerners tend to be friendlier than other parts of the U.S.A. - not always, but as a rule.
Today, well, what can I say. We now have "social distancing" and people are on edge with all the drastic changes of late - such as lockdowns, etc. But let's not linger on all of this, except first to share another scripture which is found at 2 Timothy 3:1-5 :
"This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good. Traitors, heady, high minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away."
Wow! That certainly describes things and people in these last moments of the end times which we are now experiencing ! Even Christians are affected in that they are more cautious and less trusting of others like they once were. Those verses above at 2 Timothy 3:1-5 are not alone in predicting the end times' signs, etc. By the way, please read Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21 for more end times signs.
More information will follow here on the two commandments - to love God and neighbor - but first follows two wonderful sermons on that subject by Charles Spurgeon. Briefly, Charles Spurgeon was a famous and much loved Baptist minister in England who lived from 1834 to 1892. You may find out more about him from searching the Internet.
The first sermon titled "The Secret of Loving God", which is 44 minutes long, follows:
In the above audio video, Spurgeon tells us that our love for Christ is based on a great mystery! Love in itself is hard to explain as it is. True love of God/Jesus, explains Spurgeon, over powers us, and is not because of effort or out of duty; we simply love God as God, by knowledge and faith. One thing Spurgeon brings out, which I have found to be true in my own walk with the Lord, is that if you just meditate and think with love and gratitude on all that God has done for you and how He has shown His love for you in so many ways, then your love for Him will grow and grow the more you dwell on His love and grace and tender mercies towards you!
The following 51 minute audio sermon by Charles Spurgeon is about loving your neighbor. He brings out that we should treat everyone well. Just an interesting note: The sermon here on loving God received over 400,000 more views than the sermon here on loving your neighbor! and they were published in the same year within a month of each other on You Tube !
Obviously, if your neighbor does you harm in any way and proves to be your enemy, sometimes it is best to avoid all contact with them or as much as possible. However, Jesus tells us that we should still love our enemies and we are to pray for them!
"Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for He maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. " - Matthew 5:41-45
Following is a commentary by G. Petter on "The Properties of Love":
"Because many deceive themselves in thinking that they love God, when they do not, it is needful to set down the marks of the true love of God, by which we may ascertain whether it be in us or not. The principal are these:
1. A deliberate preferring and esteeming of God above all things in the world, though never so excellent or dear to us.
2. A desire to be united and joined to God in most near communion with Him, both in this life and the next.
3. A high estimation of the special tokens and pledges of God's love to us: the Bible, sacraments, etc.
4. A conscientious care to obey God's will, and to serve and humor Him in our calling.
5. Joy and delight in the duties of God's service and worship.
6. Zeal for God's glory, causing in us a holy grief and indignation when we see or hear that God is dishonored by sin.
7. Love is bountiful, making us willing and ready to give and bestow much upon the person we love.
8. True love to the saints and children of God. "
On "The Nature of our love to Christ", Charles Spurgeon comments:
1. It must be sincere, with all the heart.
2. Intelligent, with all the mind.
3. Emotional, with all the soul.
4. Intense and energetic, with all the strength."
"Dear God, please make my days useful, my nights restful, my home peaceful, and my efforts fruitful." - comment on You Tube
"The more sorrowful you are to God, the more He will use you." - Pastor Jack Hibbs
"No matter your circumstances, if you are in the will of God, God is responsible for getting you through it." - Dr. Charles Stanley
"Faith never knows where it is being led, but it loves and knows the ONE Who is leading." - Oswald Chambers
"In every trouble, we should first seek to realize God's presence with us. Only : let us enjoy His smile, and we can bear our daily cross with a willing heart for His dear sake." - Charles Spurgeon
Here is a lovely hymn by Maranatha Music titled "I Love You Lord" :
Much has been written on this blog about how we are now living in the last moments of the end times, as prophesied in the Bible. Many theologians and Bible Scholars are convinced that this is so. If you go to the "Search Box" in the upper right hand side of this page and enter such topics as " end times, Rapture, signs of last days, Bible prophecy fulfilled, convergence of end time signs, 7 year Tribulation, " etc. you will find much information on these subjects, some articles with videos.
"When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn." - Proverbs 29:2
If Jesus were to return tonight or tomorrow or soon thereafter, would you be Rapture ready? Only those who are true believers in Jesus as the Savior will be taken to heaven to be with the Lord. That means that you have put your faith in Jesus as the promised Savior: He is the only way to heaven! He paid our sin debt in full at the Cross; He took our place and died for us; His shed blood, as the Sacrificial Lamb of God, washes our sins away (wipes the slate clean) when we surrender in complete faith and belief in Him as the Savior. We must sincerely and totally repent of our sins, pray for forgiveness, and totally commit ourselves to Jesus as His servants. Mean it with all of our very being! Not a mere head knowledge only, but bursting within ourselves and overflowing in faith and gratitude to the Savior of our souls!
Jesus loves you!
He is waiting to hear from you!
He will welcome you into His loving arms in a secure embrace of love and forgiveness !
Following are Salvation Scriptures for you:
"He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." - John 3:36
"Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." - John 3:3
"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me." - John 14:6
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." - John 3:16
Have a blessed and Christ centered weekend - and life !
