LOVE AND LIVE BY GOD’S WORD

BECOMING AND REMAINING READY

LOVE AND LIVE BY GOD’S WORD

The Bible tells us: because of our Lord Jesus Christ great love for us, he died for us “while we were still sinners” (Romans 5:8; John 3:16). He said we should “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37). And he said, we should live “by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4).

“All [biblical] Scripture is God-breathed⁽^A⁾ and is useful for teaching,⁽^B⁾ rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,⁽^C⁾ ¹⁷so that the servant of God^[^a^](^D⁾ may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16:17NIV). In his writings of compassion to his seven churches in Revelation 2 and 3, the Lord is also giving us loving instructions on keeping our first love. In the Lord’s writings here, it may be seen that this is an important part God’s word on loving and living righteously for Him. Here, our Savior who died to redeem us to God lovingly commends and corrects people of his churches concerning their relationship with him.

The following are some of the Lord’s compassionate writings to the people of his churches:

WRITING TO THE CHURCH IN EPHESUS: These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand⁽^B⁾ and walks among the seven golden lampstands.⁽^C⁾ ²I know your deeds,⁽^D⁾ your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested⁽^E⁾ those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false.⁽^F⁾ ³You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name,⁽^G⁾ and have not grown weary.

⁴Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first.⁽^H⁾ ⁵Consider how far you have fallen! Repent⁽^I⁾ and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand⁽^J⁾ from its place. ⁶But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans,⁽^K⁾ which I also hate.

⁷Whoever has ears, let them hear⁽^L⁾ what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious,⁽^M⁾ I will give the right to eat from the tree of life,⁽^N⁾ which is in the paradise⁽^O⁾ of God.

WRITING TO THE CHURCH IN SMYRNA: These are the words of him who is the First and the Last,⁽^Q⁾ who died and came to life again.⁽^R⁾ ⁹I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich!⁽^S⁾ I know about the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not,⁽^T⁾ but are a synagogue of Satan.⁽^U⁾ ¹⁰Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you,⁽^V⁾ and you will suffer persecution for ten days.⁽^W⁾ Be faithful,⁽^X⁾ even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.⁽^Y⁾

¹¹Whoever has ears, let them hear⁽^Z⁾ what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who is victorious will not be hurt at all by the second death…

Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline.⁽^AX⁾ So be earnest and repent” (Revelation 2&3NIV).

IN OTHER PARTS OF THE BIBLE THE LORD TELLS US MORE ABOUT HIS LOVE AND DISCIPLINE:

“My child, don’t make light of the LORD’s discipline, and don’t give up when he corrects you. For the LORD disciplines those he loves, and he [corrects] each one he accepts as his child…As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children…God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness (Hebrews (12:5-10).

“Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret” (2 Corinthians 7:10).

The Bible shows that the loving disciple of the Lord may even involve sickness and death for the good of some believers: “Everyone ought to examine themselves⁽^AF before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup [of the Lord]. ²⁹For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. ³⁰That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep.⁽^AG⁾ ³¹But if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we would not come under such judgment.⁽^AH⁾ ³²Nevertheless, when we are judged in this way by the Lord, we are being disciplined⁽^AI⁾ so that we will not be finally condemned with the world. (1 Corinthians 11:30-31).

God does not want anyone to lack discern or sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One (1 John 2:1). And “If we confess our sins [and repent], he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9; Luke 13:3).

The Lord, who “looks on the heart,” said, If you love me and have a real desire to keep my commands (1 Samuel 16:7); “ I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth” (John 14:15-17).

Our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ tells us who love and live for him according to the word of God: “I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am” (John 14:3).