I will share about Christian books I have read or listened to.
I will be sharing about my life before and after Christ. I will include stories about my pet and other pets I have encountered.
Loving God and Loving People
In Matthew 22, we see the religious leaders of Jesus’ day trying to trip Him up with hard questions. One of the questions asked of Him was this:
“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?”
In an effort to trap Jesus, this Pharisee asked Him something designed to expose ignorance or false teaching or anything else they could hold against Jesus and His ministry.
But Jesus was ready.
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Matthew 22:37-39 ESV
Such a succinct, truthful answer did the opposite of what the religious leaders had hoped for. It didn’t discredit Jesus. It validated that He was who He said He was. He didn’t get cornered. He didn’t get flustered. He simply and without wavering, clarified the foundation of everything.
What was Jesus saying?
Loving God with our whole hearts and loving others as we love ourselves—these two things are more important than anything else. They are the foundation of life as a believer. Not being right. Not obtaining possessions or wealth. Not having everything in life just the way we want. Loving God. Loving people.
But here’s the thing— the only way we can ever love people well is if we first devote ourselves to loving God and allow ourselves to be loved by Him. How? Like any relationship, there are ways to facilitate growth:
- Spend time in His Word
- Have honest conversations with Him
- Reflect on His character every day
As your love for God grows and grows, your heart for people often will, too. Showing love for God looks like doing what He commands—and that includes loving the people around us the way that God loves us.
The great news? God loves you so much. He loves you right now. And He is inviting you to know and experience His love today.
Peace That Stays
Everyone wants peace. In the world, in our homes, and in our hearts. In difficult times, we seek comfort. In heartbreaking moments, we want a peace that remains steady despite the circumstances.
The Bible teaches about this kind of peace. Philippians 4:7 describes the peace of God. No amount of self-talk or meditation can manufacture this kind of peace—it only can come from God Himself. Preacher and theologian Charles Spurgeon described this kind of peace as the perfect calm and happiness of God, who is always content.
This peace transcends all understanding. It's the idea that something goes beyond our normal way of thinking. That is a beautiful description of what God’s peace does. It exceeds our understanding and surpasses anything we could expect or imagine. It also guards and protects our hearts and minds.
How do we get this kind of peace? The surrounding verses in Philippians offer guidance. Philippians 4:6 tells us to take every anxious thought and turn it into a ...
