Michael continues: Jesus came not to condemn the world but that the world through Him might be saved. One of the purposes of the Christian church is to create an environment where the Holy Spirit is welcome to come help himself to our lives. For it is not the wrath of God but the loving kindness and tender mercy. It is the love of God that calls a man to repentance. The question is, “whom do you serve?”
We serve those whom we love the most. This is why the first and greatest commandment says, thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, soul, mind, and strength. Then the second commandment is like unto it: thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. Why? Because Jesus said, in that you have done it unto the least of these my brethren, you have done it unto me. This materialistic world conditions us to ask, What’s in it for me?” You have to look out for number one. However according to Ecclesiastes, vanity of vanities, all is vanity. If done for our own vain glory, it shall be done in vain, it shall come to naught, it profits me nothing, and it will become dust in the wind.
After the Apostle Peter had denied Christ, he went back to his fishing business. Jesus appeared to the disciples on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. He was grilling fish by the sea side. In John 21, Jesus asked Peter twice, Peter do you love me with the “agape” love of God? Peter answered both times, I love you like a brother. The third time… Jesus asked do you love me like a brother? Peter said, Lord you know all things, you know I love you the only way I know how. Jesus said, feed my sheep.
Our Lord trusted no man. He was not bitter or discouraged about the actions of men who opposed him. As he prayed on the cross for the soldiers who had driven the nails through his hands and feet, he also prayed for us all before we were saved, “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do”. As followers of Christ, let this mind be in you which was also in Christ ... He took upon himself the form of a servant and was faithful unto death, even the death of the cross. For He who was without sin, became the perfect sacrifice for sin on our behalf that we may be made the righteousness of God in Him.
Jesus loved us so much that He for the joy that was set before him, (the joy of your salvation and mine) endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down upon the right hand of the throne of God. Jesus didn’t love them because of who they were, but because of who God had called them to be. He saw them through the reflection of the Word. For we all with open face beholding, as in a glass, the glory of the Lord are changed from glory (of the flesh) to glory (of the Spirit) even by the Spirt of the Lord.
Greater love than this hath no man than to give his life so we may receive eternal life. Love so amazing, so Devine, demands my soul, my life, my all that we may live to the praise of the glory of His grace.
Your brother in Christ, Michael
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