Love One Another

It seems that everyone has an agenda on social media. Our feeds tell people who we are and what we like or don't like by the things we post and what we share. Our social walls are living testaments, touting our beliefs, opinions, and priorities. Much of it is important and valuable, but some of it is often harsh or rude. If we view life through an eternal lens, we see that most of it has little to do with caring for other people.  

Yet, Jesus, Paul, and the apostles emphasized that the most important thing that will matter on Judgement Day will be how we treated people, including how we spoke to them or about them (Matthew 12:36-37). Even if one claims to be a Christian, but does not habitually treat others with respect and kindness, they are not abiding in Christ and become like the branches that bear no fruit and are cast into the fire (John 15:6). Jesus was not harsh to the unconverted sinner. He knew their unregenerate souls were doing what came naturally, and therefore had compassion on them and told them to repent. He was hardest on those who should have known better concerning their lack of faith and love: the Pharisees, Scribes, disciples and even his followers (Matthew 7:5, Matthew 17:17, Matthew 23:13-36, Mark 12:40, Luke 24:25).  

We see His great command to love one another play out in the parable of the Good Samaritan. It is a unique story with a twist as to how we mortals would expect it to unfold. I’ll paraphrase the parable in a setting that hits closer to home to give an idea of the seriousness of this command to love one another sacrificially. (For the sake of this story, imagine the setting in a time and place with no phones or medical facilities nearby):  

One day, an American man is robbed, beaten and left for dead in a back alley in a rough section of town. Along comes a priest and then later a deacon. They can easily see the man from inside of their cars, but they both keep driving and pretend not to see. Maybe they’re afraid of being hurt and robbed themselves. Maybe they’re in a hurry, or they think the injured man will get blood on their clothes and cars. Whatever it is, they don't stop because they know it will cost them something. 

But then along comes a man of Middle Eastern descent. He stops his car and administers first aid and then carries the man to his vehicle and drives him to a motel. Once inside the room, the Middle Eastern man continues to care for the injured man’s wounds. He puts him to bed and then spends the night watching over him. In the morning, he pays the motel manager two hundred dollars and asks if he would check in on the victim. Then he says, “Whatever else you spend on his needs, I will pay you next time I come to town.”  

Now here’s the kicker. Not only did the two men whom we expected to help the man, not do so, but the people of Middle Eastern descent and the American people often hate each other. Yet one enemy is helping the other to the point risking his life and sacrificing his time, reputation, and finances.  

In the story told by Jesus, the Samaritans (the Middle Eastern man in this story) were despised by the Jews (the American man in this story), so much so that to be called a Samaritan was a horrible insult. Jews and Samaritans did not mingle, and yet here Jesus takes the despised one and makes him out to be the hero who rises above bigotry and prejudice and shows compassion to his fellow man. When Jesus said love your enemies, he didn’t say, “Only if it’s easy or convenient.” He said, “Now go and do the same.” We aren’t to pick and choose who is worthy of our compassion, kindness and respect.  This is radical love. A love that we can only live out by the power of the Holy Spirit. 

So go and do the same. Your neighbor is the person close to you at any given moment. Your neighbor is about proximity, not personality. This story is also a picture of how much Jesus loves us. He stoops down and reaches out to broken hearts and broken men and women to heal their hurts and save their souls. He is the Great Physician and Lord of all who wants to give us new life, if we would only turn to him, believe on him, and ask him to save us (Romans 10:9-10, 13). 

Love and Truth

✞

Truth without love is like surgery without anesthesia.

 Love without Truth is like anesthesia without surgery.

In other words...

Truth without love often causes pain to the hearer. 

Love without Truth does no eternal good to the hearer. 

Jesus Christ is both Love and Truth. 

The Royal Law

 If you keep The Royal Law, "Love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing right ~ James 2:8

Isaiah 58:7-10

As you have done it unto the least of these, you have done it unto me. ~ Jesus (Matthew 25:40)

 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne.  All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.  He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.  For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you have done it unto me.’

“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.  For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life" (Matthew 25:31-46).

Are You Ready?

The remainder of the verse in the photo states, "And they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him." Wail? Why would people wail at His coming? Maybe because they weren't ready because they believed a lie.

Do you know that Jesus loves you and died for your sins, so that you can be forgiven and on your way to heaven? Many people believe this, but they also believe that no matter how they live they are fine-and-dandy without ever having a change of heart through repentance and surrender to God. Below are just a few of the many verses on repentance, some-of-which are even directed at God’s people…the church.

Jesus said, "There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent" (Luke 24:47 NLT). Speaking to the crowd, he also said, "You will perish, too, unless you repent of your sins and turn to God" (Luke 13:3). Jesus repeats this again in verse 5. "I tell you again that unless you repent, you will perish, too.”

“From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, “Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17), and “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (Matthew 9:13).

John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins (Mark 1:4).

Jesus said, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel,” (Mark 1:15).

And they went out, and preached that men should repent (Mark 6:12).

Jesus said, “There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repents.” (Luke 15:10).

Peter said, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost" (Acts 2:38).

John the Baptist said, “Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 3:2).

Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out (Acts 3:19).

And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent (Acts 17:30).

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).

Revelation 2:5 (to the church) Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

Revelation 2:16 (to the church) Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

Revelation 2:21 (church) And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.

Revelation 2:22 (church) Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.

Revelation 3:3 (church) Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.

Revelation 3:19 (church) As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

Revelation 9:20 And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood.

Revelation 9:21 Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries (drugs), nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.

Revelation 16:9 And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory.

Revelation 16:11 And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds.

End time events are being fulfilled daily. Are you ready? You can be. Give your life to Jesus Christ, He gave His life for you. “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved,” (Romans 10:13).

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"Carol McCormick's health and nutrition book is chock-filled with eye-opening and rather dismaying data on the food choices many of us make. Her detailed lists showing the fats and sugars in food are worth looking into as is her data on healthy alternatives. The second part of this book contains things kids and adults can do to stop obsessing about food, and there are some pretty exhaustive lists of ways to volunteer, work part-time, set up your own small business and get smarter," Readers' Favorite Book Review by Jack Magnus (Five Stars).

I'm Hungry! I'm Bored! can help you and your children make better dietary choices and behavioral changes that lead to weight loss and health gains.

I'm Hungry! provides the what, why, and how-to of nutrition and weight loss by defining the problems, offering solutions, and then presenting guidelines to carry them through. 

I'm Bored! offers hundreds of  suggestions and links to fun and educational activities, questions to ask, jobs to perform, and services to volunteer, all-of-which develop the intellect, confidence, and feelings of fulfillment. These activities may also deter the hand-to-mouth eating habit that often accompanies boredom.

Eat and Play Your Way to Better Health, a Leaner Physique, and a Happier Life!

For Adults and Tots Through Teens

Carol McCormick is a certified personal trainer and a certified health coach through the American Council on Exercise, one of the top fitness organizations in the world. I'M HUNGRY! I'M BORED! was born out of her great concern for children and adults who struggle with weight-related personal and social issues. Overweight children are falling prey to a host of “adult” diseases, and many are taunted, teased, and bullied because of their appearance. Adults are not immune to this discrimination, as they are also “sized-up” when searching for a date or seeking a career. These painful emotions often cause both children and adults, not only to feel sad or upset, but also inferior and insecure. As these physical, emotional, and social problems intensify, feelings of unhappiness may also increase.

Habits instilled in your children now often follow them into their future. In helping them, you will be helping yourself, because what works for them will work for you too, if you need a nudge in this direction. I’M HUNGRY! I’M BORED! provides the blueprints needed to lay a strong foundation and create new behaviors that lead to better health, a leaner physique, and a happier life! 

Award-winning Inspirational Novel

Gold Medal Winner

Reader's Favorite International Book Award for Christian Romance 

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"Fresh dialogue, realistic characters, a powerful message. McCormick does a great job creating her characters and portraying the struggles they endure," The Romance Readers Connection. 

How does a man pick up the pieces when his world crashes around him? Misplaced priorities shattered his marriage. Problems almost crushed him. Love motivated him to mend the damage, once he found all the pieces. 

After only a few months of marriage, Lorraine left Dylan on a wintry night after he'd spent one too many nights out with the guys. Unable to cope with the loss, Dylan escapes the painful feelings by drinking them away. This decision costs him a year-and-a-half of his life after he stops in a little mountain town and ends up in the local jail. When he's released, he returns home in search of a job to get his life—and his wife back. 

The Missing Piece is not only a love story about a man who loves a woman, but is also a love story about a merciful God who loves mankind, even when he falls. The novel is an emotionally-charged journey of hope and redemption with a touch of spunk, a hint of humor, and a few twists along the way. 

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