The first is from myself and the second is from Michael Gallops and the
third form Pastor Warren Billson.
How you ever asked to yourself this question?
Most, if not all, Christians have done so at some time in their Christian experience. There are those who find the answer and those who do not. Let us therefore consider one aspect of God’s will which applies to each and every Christian regardless of spiritual age.
Ask yourself this question, "Do I love Jesus?" Think carefully before answering for the question is not concerning your salvation but your love for Jesus. Ask yourself also, "how do I know, how can I know and how can I show my love for Jesus to others?"
These are thought- provoking questions and the answers point to the will of God for our lives as we seek to serve Him with all of our strength. The question of whether or not you love Jesus and how to prove it to yourself and others is answered in the words of Jesus, (John 14:15) "if you love me, keep my commandments".
What then are the commandments of Jesus? One is found in John 15:12 “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you ”, John 15:14. “you are my friends, if you do whatsoever I command you".
These truly are the commands of Jesus, however, there are two which could be considered greater and they are found in Mark 12:30,31, "And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all you all mind, and with all your strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, you shall love your neighbour as yourself. There is no other the commandment greater than these."
Herein is the will of God revealed; love Him and your neighbour as yourself.
Let us consider these separately. Mark 12:30 reveals that our love for God encompasses our whole being, ie. our emotional life as well as our physical life. There is not one part of us that is unaffected. It is a complete surrender or commitment.
To show to ourselves and others our love for God also means that He is Lord of our lives. This entails having no other gods before Him and making no graven images nor taking His name in vain. In the realm of natural love there is nothing we would not to do for the object of our love, how much more then in the spiritual realm? Heart, soul and mind are the motivational areas of our lives and love is the power behind the strength which creates the motivation. In the words of the chorus, "love is the key to everything I do".
Love your neighbour as yourself was Jesus’ second commandment, the proof of our love for Him, and an example of what to this involves is found in John 21:15-17, where Jesus confronted Peter with the question "Do you love me?" Jesus used varying degrees of love here but the thrust the message is the same; if you love me, feed my sheep!
Jesus said to love your neighbour as yourself. Who is your neighbour?
Jesus’ sheep are your neighbours and the indication of your love for Jesus is how well you feed His sheep.
This web page is not an "official" Royal Rangers page. The Royal Rangers emblem is a trademark of the Assemblies of God. Royal Rangers Emblem©1962 by the national Royal Rangers Office, HonorBound: Men of Promise, The General Council of the Assemblies of God; Springfield, Missouri 65802-1894. The Royal Rangers Emblem may not be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means--electronically, mechanically, photocopies, recording, or otherwise--without prior written permission from the national Royal Rangers Office.
[2nd International Cyber Pow-Wow events] [RangerNet Home] [Official Royal Rangers web site] [Devotions]
This page was last updated 10 September 2000.
visits.