First Baptist Idabel

The three most powerful words in any language are “JESUS IS LORD”.  They are life-changing words.  The second three most powerful words in any language are “I love you”.  Interestingly, the first three words magnify the latter.  A person can’t know true, life fulfilling love without knowing Jesus as Lord.  People can fall in love with each other without knowing Jesus Christ, but the greatest love of all comes only from Jesus Christ.  It’s the only love that can fill the void in our hearts, and allow us to meet our full potential as an individual. 

The love of Jesus magnifies our own love for others, including our spouses, our children, other family members, and even strangers. Having a relationship with Jesus strengthens the bond of our relationships with all of the people in our lives.  The LORD does not say, “love me and me only”.  When asked by the Pharisees, “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment of the Law?”  Jesus replied, “‘love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind’” (Matt. 22:36 -37 NIV).  Our Lord could have stopped there, but instead Jesus purposefully added, “This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’” (Matt. 22:38 -39 NIV).   Jesus even tells us to love our enemies, and to pray for those who persecute us.  You can always tell when someone is living in Christ. It shines through in how they deal with other people. The compassion, and love of Christ not only magnifies our love for others, but it is also magnetic. People who may not know Jesus are drawn to this magnetism. It’s the compassion and love of Christ and our love for one another that demonstrates how God is still very much alive and active in the world today. So let us echo the gospel call, “JESUS IS LORD”, and share the love of Christ.   

 

‘Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.’ 

(1 John 4:7)