The TRUTH That Sets Us Free to Love Like Jesus

If our minds and hearts are not filled with God’s truth, something else will take His place: cynicism, occultism, false religion and philosophies, drugs – the list is endless. ~ Billy Graham

TRUTH

John 8 :31,32 (NIV) ~ To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Jesus Christ is the Truth that sets us free. He is the source of truth and He sets the perfect standard. By trusting in Jesus and surrendering to Him, we are free from the bondage of sin (slavery to sin).

John 8:34 (NIV) ~ Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.”

When we accept Jesus as Lord and Savior of our life, we have freedom from sin. We have a choice to make daily and even minute by minute..to be slaves to sin or a slave to Christ. The correct answer is “slaves to Christ.” Is it always easy and fun by “world standards” to give up worldly views and pleasures? No, it isn’t. The world’s idea of fun and good is only temporary. We are ALL sinners..but we don’t have to be a slave to those things that separate us from God.

TRUTH + LOVE

Love is a choice and an action. Contrary to popular belief, love is NOT a feeling. Truth and Love go hand in hand. To know the TRUTH (JESUS) and to love like Jesus loves is an action. It is not always easy to do that…but it is always best.

When you truly love someone, you want to please and honor them by the way you act. How you treat someone shows whether or not you really care about them. ~Billy Graham

This is tough sometimes. Love like Jesus loves. Have I always done this? How many times have I grieved the Holy Spirit (who lives inside of me) because I have not loved others the way Jesus loves them? Even though I have been saved since around age 9 or 10, I haven’t always loved like Jesus loves me.

Love is the basis for all of the commandments from God. God wants us to love Him and He wants us to love others. If Jesus is inside of me..I should be loving EVERYONE just like Jesus loves me. I know I have failed God on this one…I know that I never ever want to grieve God again. I love Him..I don’t just know about God, I KNOW GOD.

I have made mistakes..but God loves me and is so merciful that He loves me anyways. Do I deserve this love? No…I surely don’t.

During a bible study that I went to one time, I was convicted. My heart was changed..it hit me that I was not loving a certain person the way God intended me to. It was revealed to me that God loves everyone just the same way He loves me. Flaws and all..he loves me..and He loves everyone else..flaws and all. I don’t have the “right” to not love someone. Jesus lives in me..so I don’t have the choice to “not love”…. I have known God for a long time, but that doesn’t make me perfect by any means. I desire to love like Jesus now though.

1 John 4:7,8 (NIV) ~ Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

Romans 12:9,10 (NIV) ~ Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.

1 John 4:12 (NIV) ~ No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

God is love..His word is TRUTH. Jesus is the source of TRUTH. When you truly know Jesus and abide in Him, you can’t hold back love for others. You have to love like Jesus if you profess to possess Him. Real love is NOT selfish because God is NOT selfish.

Rev. Billy Graham said, “Many Christians who profess Christ do not live as though they possess Him.” I believe he is right. I know I haven’t always… We have the choice to change the way we live right now. Slaves to sin…or slaves to Christ.

The more you dig into God’s word (The Bible), the more you will learn. He says that when we draw near to Him that He draws near to us. Makes sense don’t you think? When you have or have had a big test to take, you had to study the material to know it right?? Same goes for the TRUTHS that are found in the Bible. The only way to love like Jesus is to follow Jesus..and study His word.

UNTIL NEXT TIME!