“…when the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees with His reply, they met together to question Him again. One of them, an expert in religious law, tried to trap Him with this question: “Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?” Jesus replied, “‘You must love (agapaō) the LORD your God with ALL your heart, ALL your soul, and ALL your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The ENTIRE LAW and all the demands of THE PROPHETS are based on these two commandments.” (Matt. 22:34-40)
We can talk big about this very important doctrine, but what really matters is what we actually do about it. If we talk all day about love, forgiveness, and grace but never actually live it out, we are just being hypocritical. I don’t think we intend to be hypocritical; we have good intentions behind what we say. The problem is the devil can get us off track and tempt us to fall back into our pride and never actually live out what we said. We can all be guilty of this JUSTIN, so, we must be alert. “Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be gracious and attractive (filled with God’s love) so that you will have the right response for everyone.” (Col. 4:5-6) In this portion of the text in particular, Paul is encouraging the church to engage with those outside the church in a way that is filled with grace—the Greek meaning for grace here included pleasant and graceful speech. I can’t help but think this applies so perfectly to where we find ourselves today.
Paul says, “My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know THE MYSTERY OF GOD, NAMELY, CHRIST, IN WHOM ARE HIDDEN ALL THE TREASURES OF WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE. I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments. For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how disciplined you are and how firm YOUR FAITH IN CHRIST IS.” (Col. 2:2-5)
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham