True Love

Picture of Jesus by Howard Lyon Visit his website here

The God of the Bible is often characterized as all-powerful, all-knowing, et Cetera.  However all of the Bible clearly reveals that His most prevalent attribute is LOVE.

He that loves not knows not God; for God is love.
1 John 4:8

When Yeshua was asked what the greatest commandment was He didn’t quote Scripture about attending church, being well-educated, having a lot of money, being a strong athlete, or anything else.  Not that those are bad things but rather, this is what He said:

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul,
and with all your mind.This is the first and great commandment.
And the second is like unto it,
You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
Matthew 22:37-39

Love isn’t something that God does, rather it who He IS.  God doesn’t love you just because He wants to.  Rather He loves you because it is His very nature.  As you breathe by nature, to sustain life, God loves: It is His nature.

In Matthew chapter 8 a man with leprosy came to Yeshua and said “if You will, You can make me clean” v.3.  Yeshua’s reply was “I will”.  In other words, “Yes” it is my will; my desire that you are healed.

“Jesus reached out his hand and touched the leper and said, “Of course I want to heal you—be healed!” And instantly, all signs of leprosy disappeared!”   Mt. 8:3 TPT

Immediately following that, Yeshua encountered a Roman Centurion who was concerned about His ailing servant.  Again, Yeshua said “I will” v.7.

Yeshua went about healing all (Acts 10:38) because it was His nature.  He loves His creation and so by nature, He desires for it to be healthy and whole as He created it to be; especially His favorite of all creation, man.

To love is to sacrifice
Yesterday there was another school shooting in Colorado.  A sick young male student who was being tormented into thinking that he was female walked into a class room at Stem Charter school in Highlands Ranch, Colorado and told everyone not to move.  Another student, Kendrick Castillo, immediately lunged toward the boy with the gun.  At that point Kendrick Castillo received a fatal gunshot to the chest.

However it was Kendrick’s actions that provided other young men the opportunity to subdue the deranged young shooter.  Just 3 days away from his last day of high school, Kendrick Castillo died while saving his fellow classmates.

To love is to sacrifice.  Yeshua sacrificed Himself so that you could live.

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
John 15:13

Compassion
I don’t know if Kendrick was in covenant with Yeshua or not but I know that His selfless act was a good thing and that all good things come from God.  The devil murdered Kendrick and stole his life away from both him, his family, and all who were blessed to know him.  That is what satan does: That is his nature.  He is a thief, a murderer, and a destroyer. (John 10:10).

As people of God, this is an opportunity for us to evaluate ourselves.  How well do I love?  How compassionate am I?  It was Yeshua’s nature to be moved with compassion (Mark 1:41).  Am I moved with compassion?

If you have truly been born again, given a new life with Yeshua’s Spirit inside you, then you should have the same spirit of compassion in you. Just as it was Yeshua’s nature to be loving and compassionate it should be yours as well.  If it is not, then you might want to consider what is holding you back.

The LORD is gracious and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.
The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.
Psalm 145:8-9

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Dr. Rayphe