Known by Love - Day 147 Month 5-27 Week 21-7

Today's Reading (Bible in 1 year)


Joshua 2:15-3:17, Psalm 119:25-48, Jeremiah 30:1-17, John 13:21-14:15

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joshua%202%3A15-3%3A17%2C%20Psalm%20119%3A25-48%2C%20Jeremiah%2030%3A1-17%2C%20John%2013%3A21-14%3A15&version=NASB1995


Known by Love


“Love one another.”  This is a command from Jesus to all His disciples.  He follows it with the statement: “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”  This is a functioning family.  


I have 2 nephews that used to fight all the time.  When I would visit them at their home when they were growing up, every bed time became a fighting match between the two of them.  It was constant.  They are grown men now and have dramatically different personalities and they still disagree on a lot.  I was only able to attend the younger brother’s wedding but I was thrilled to see that the older brother was his best man.  The two brothers disagree on much but when it comes to important things there is an incredible bond of love.  As a Jesus follower, I am to love all other Jesus followers like family.  Now, I can disagree all I want with their theology or their methodology of life but I need to be able to love them and stand with them.  I’ll be honest!  Sometimes it’s hard to love other believers like family, but this is a commandment Jesus gives, it’s not a feeling, it’s a decision to love.  After all, we will be neighbours in the kingdom of God.


In John 14, Jesus goes on to say “In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.” and “I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.”  Jesus followers from every nation and denomination in this world will be a part of Jesus’ kingdom.  The differences we experience here on this earth will be irrelevant in the kingdom of God.  This sounds an awful lot like peace!


So how do we experience this peace in God’s kingdom?  Jesus is pretty clear in John 14:6.  “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through me.   This is where every individual must make the decision.  To be part of God’s kingdom, Jesus is the only entry point.  This is very difficult because being a good person makes you a good person but does not provide entry to the kingdom.  You can’t believe that some other god will get you to heaven, and it also won’t be your philosophy of living that determines your eternal destiny.   Jesus is either speaking the truth, He is crazy or He’s the biggest fraud in the history of the world. Frauds and crazy people’s followers do not last forever. True followers of Jesus Christ do, and they make their part of the world a better place while they are in it.  


As for me, I have chosen Jesus as the truth - the one way and the narrow gate.  Sylvia has chosen the same and I know many others who have.  I also know many others who have chosen not to be a Jesus follower to this point.  My encouragement is to choose Jesus.  Choose the truth of Jesus.  Let this Truth set you free.


If you’ve been reading along with me throughout this year or you have just been reading the daily thoughts from this blog but would like to understand more deeply about Jesus, I’d be thrilled to hear from you.  You can contact me by email (see below) or you can comment on the blog.  I’d love to hear from you!


Have a great day!

Steve

steve.d.pauls@gmail.com


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