There is nothing in the Bible that would suggest that it is possible to separate love for God from love for people JUSTIN. We love and worship an invisible God. He has forbidden us to make an image of Himself, but He has put His image into mankind,”…God said, “Let us make mankind in OUR IMAGE, in OUR LIKENESS…” (Gen. 1:26). If we would see Him and serve Him, we must SEE AND SERVE our fellow man.
“…an expert in religious law stood up to TEST Jesus by asking Him this question: “Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?” When he asked this question JUSTIN, it was clearly Jesus who was on trial, Jesus who was being cross-examined about the nature of His mission, Jesus who was being judged by public opinion. But Jesus refused to answer the question, instead turning it back on the lawyer. Jesus replied, “What does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?” The man answered, “‘You must LOVE THE LORD your God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind.’ And, ‘LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’” “Right!” Jesus told him. “Do this and YOU WILL LIVE!” (Luke 10:25-28)
The lawyer wanted to justify himself, “…so he asked Jesus, “And who is MY NEIGHBOR?” (Luke 10:29) So Jesus said, imagine that you were heading down the old road from Jerusalem to Jericho and then a terrible thing happened to you. You fell into the hands of robbers who stripped you, beat you, and left you for half dead. A priest and a Levite went by but avoided you. “But a Samaritan, came where the man was; and took pity on him.” (Luke 10:33) The Samaritan took the man to get help JUSTIN. “Which of these three do you think WAS A NEIGHBOR to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “GO AND DO THE SAME.“ (Luke 10:36-37)
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham