*WISDOM FOR TODAY.*
*LOVE AND RELATIONSHIP (1).*
*Scripture Treasure.*
John 3:16 *For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.*
*Insight and Highlight.*
Jesus loves all, but He has a special relationship with those who love Him.
Proverbs 8:17 *I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.*
*Scripture Commentaries.*
According to Jesus's word, "Lk 10:27, you must love your neighbor as yourself." In other words, you give a person love as much as you give yourself.
In other words, you can not love someone more than you have loved yourself, and neither can you love anyone less than the love you have for yourself.
This is why God evaluates the love we have for Him whom we can not see with the love we have for people we can see, 1 John 4:20.
When you love, you have only taken that person as your own self, not more or less.
Above all, love is a must and a command, 1 John 4.
This is also because God does not expect that you hate yourself.
Eph 5:29 says, *"For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it,..."*
Relationship, on the other hand, is not a must. It is a choice.
Many of us have murdered relationships.
It can be hard for someone whom you have betrayed to trust or resume a relationship like you had before. This may be because he/she was betrayed, and in order to avoid a repetition, he/she may choose to simply love but not associate.
We must be careful to muddle love and relationship.
We can be reconciled yet not be in a relationship as close as before.
Jesus reconciled the world to Himself, but not everyone is in a relationship with Him,
2 Cor 5:19.
God hates offenses, Luke 17:1-2
and he does not like relationships where offenders refuse to change.
He says concerning your brothers and sisters who sin, *"....rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them."*
Remember, *"...if they repent, forgive them..."* Jesus wants us to prove ourselves when we have made mistakes in order to facilitate forgiveness and reconciliation.
This leads to a newly born relationship based on trust as it was before.
Jesus loves all but has a special relationship with those who love Him, Prov 8:17, John 14:21. He honors those who honor Him, 1 Sam 2:30.
Not everyone He loves hears His voice, but those who love Him and are His sheep hear His voice, John 10:14. These people have a relationship with Him.
He loves all, John 3:16, but not everyone has a relationship with Him.
He speaks for repentance before reconciliation and relationship can take place.
John says the people should bring forth fruit to show that they have repented Matt 3:8.
They must show they have changed from their evil ways.
People want reconciliation and relationships, yet they refuse to turn from their evil ways.
Are you complaining that Christ is not relating with you as before?
*Remorse corner.*
There is a place for repentance with godly sorrow.
*Call to Word action.*
2 Corinthians 7:10 *For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.*
*The Christian clarion duty.*
Many do not want to repent, yet they want forgiveness and reconciliation, ref Luke 17:3.
*Prayer.*
Lord, help me to love You as l love my neighbor as myself, in Jesus name.
Good morning all, and have a blessed day today.
God bless you.
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