Pastor Barry's  "Chapter & Verse"  Day 194

July 13;   Mark 12:33;   40/260(III);   ‘Christianity is Love’

Mark 12:33 And to love Him with all the heart, with all the understanding, with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself, is more than all the whole burnt offerings and sacrifices."

A scribe, one of the religious leaders, came to Jesus and sincerely asked Him what is the first commandment of all?  The Lord Jesus told Him the first commandment is to love the Lord with all of your heart, soul and mind.  Jesus went on to say that they second commandment is to love your neighbor as yourself.  Jesus closed by saying there are no other commandments greater than these.  Simply put, Christianity is love.  The Lord told us that others would know that we are His disciples by our love.  Not by how much of the Bible we know, nor by how we flow in the power of the Holy Spirit.  Knowing the Word and flowing in the anointing are incredibly important.  If we do not treat people with the love and kindness of our Lord, everything else that we may do is meaningless.  Walking in love with others is maturity and it is at times the most difficult thing to do.  I Corinthians 13 is called the love chapter, clearly teaching us the qualities of God’s love.  God’s love is different than the world’s love.  God’s love is based on a decision He made to love us no matter what.  The world’s love is fickle and can evaporate when we are treated in a manner we feel is wrong.  Verse 8 of I Corinthians 13 tells us that love, God’s love, never fails.  When we purpose in our heart to walk in love with others regardless of their treatment of us, that love makes a tremendous impact on them.  We are here to lead others to Jesus.  Loving them His way is the key.