I perceive that if "thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind" is the "first and great commandment", then NOT loving "Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind" will be the greatest sin!
How do we know if we are fulfilling the first and great commandment?
Most people think they are and THAT'S why it's so difficult to get them to see they are not saved.
Earlier this week I listened to, and posted a link to Joyce Green's Testimony on Sermonindex.com. Something she said has haunted me all week! I'm paraphrasing: " When I was lost, but thought I was saved!"
Why it impacted me so greatly was - I was there. Four years ago, I "thought" I was saved too! In my youth, I had asked Jesus into my heart; been baptized in water and in The Holy Spirit with evidence of speaking in tongues; went to church every time the doors were open - even sang in the choir! If someone had asked me if I was saved, I would have given a resounding "YES!"
BUT now I know the difference!
You see I loved ME more than God! In fact I loved everything more than God! My family, my home, career, church, my life; He took a back seat to everything! I was a sinner! I had idols. I had unforgiveness, bitterness, fear, anger, worry, all hidden in my heart! I did everything "man" had told me to do, to be saved, but I didn't have love!
We cannot love on our own, it's not in us! He has to give us His love!
"And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us."(Romans 5:5 KJV)
"And hereby we do know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He that saith, I know Him and keepeth not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth His word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in Him. (1 John 2:3-5 KJV)
And here is the clincher!
"He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked." (1 John 2:6 KJV)
I'm sure Joyce and I are not the only ones who "were lost, but thought we were saved!" In fact, I submit the most in the church are in that same boat!
“He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.”
1 John 2:9 KJV
“If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” 1 John 1:10 KJV
There is so much more to being a follower of Jesus Christ, than what we have been taught! It's not works! It's relationship! Because we know Him, we love Him and we WANT to do what He says! We give up our wants for His! We walk in His way because we want to obey His commandments! We want to please Him!
Don't be a Christian, be a follower of Jesus Christ! Read your Bible DAILY! Seek Him with your whole heart! Ask The Holy Spirit to reveal the sin that is hiding in your heart and then repent! Ask God to show you where you have missed it, and He will! Welcome His exposure and cleansing! Conviction hurts but freedom feels so good!
“Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” Psalms 37:4 KJV
Especially if your desire is for Him!
Even so - MARANATHA!
From 1/30/16
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