LOVE – CHRIST.

I would boldly tell you that another name for Christ is love. This was expressly shown in the scriptures in many places.

Christ was such a different man.

What stood Him out from all the healers and diviners was that He knew how to love. He did not just know, love is in His DNA.

Lately, I’ve been reading the book “Love: The way to Victory” by Kenneth E. Hagin. It opened my eyes to the realities of love. I began to see some errors in the body of Christ.

I then discovered that the concept of love was missing from Christiandom. We claim to love but we do not express love to it’s fullest.

It’s not just that we can’t. It’s that out knowledge about love is limited. We have not journeyed deep to understand what the scriptures are saying about love.

St. Mark 12:28-34(NLT) says;

28. One of the teachers of religious law was standing there listening to the discussion. He realized that Jesus had answered well, so he asked, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”

29. Jesus replied, ” The most important commandment is this: ‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord.

30. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’

31. The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these. “

32.  The teacher of religious law replied, “Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth by saying that there is only one God and no other.

33. And I know it is important to love him with all my heart and all my understanding and all my strength, and to love my neighbors as myself. This is more important than to offer all of the burnt offerings and sacrifices required in the law.”

34. Realizing this man’s understanding, Jesus said to him, ” You are not far from the Kingdom of God.” And after that, no one dared to ask him any more questions.

This was a teacher questioning Jesus. He wanted to know. There are so many commandments. Which one would be the greatest to break?

Jesus simply told him LOVE.

Many Christians pray(in their understanding and in tongues), heal, cast out demons, live ‘holy’ but they lack love.

As a matter of fact, living Holy is living Loving.

Holiness is the nature of God. But we also know that love is the nature of God. Holiness is that class of God that all those who want to see Him must enter.(1Peter 1:15&16).

So, the bible taught us two great things that would make us righteous (right-with-God);

1. Holiness
2. Love.

If we want to think about it, love produces holiness. Indirectly, holiness is a direct proof of your love for God. If you love Him, be holy. If you want Him, be holy.

The bible never placed any negotiation on love & holiness.

These two principles are so important that Jesus Himself stressed their relevance. It’s not just a statement. With His life, He taught us what Love should be about.

I also want to bring out something from the scripture above.

Verse 34 says; “Realizing this man’s understanding, Jesus said to him, ” You are not far from the Kingdom of God.” And after that, no one dared to ask him any more questions”

His understanding was improved!

If I want to become a professional tailor, I have to fully understand what the concept of tailoring entails. It’s not like I’m trying to be smarter than my boss, no.

My understanding would make me a better tailor than someone who just wants to learn the skill and not the concept. From the concept of anything, genuine hunger is driven.

When I began to understand and decode what love is, I had an unquenchable hunger for the things of love(God). I didn’t need any man or person to show me the great love of God for me.

I saw it because I UNDERSTOOD.

Your understanding alone would drive you to as point of love, unconsciously. Because I understand, I can walk in it

I would have loved to teach us the concept of love right away but it’s not something we can do now. So, well be having a series; THE CONCEPT OF LOVE!

It would start his week and run for the rest of the month, possibly branching into next month.

Stay tuned!
Till then, seek after understanding of the concept of love. Loving would be easier.

Happy Sunday!🌹
#GrowingInGrace