The Greatest Commandment

~ The Magic Key to Obeying the Commandments ~

A simple question is posed to Jesus Christ. His answer seems strange to many. But is it? First consider the passage. 

“But when the Pharisees heard that He had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, ‘Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?’ Jesus said to him, ‘“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.”  This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”  On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.’” (Matthew 22:34-40).    

The answer is really not that strange when one thinks about. These two commandments go together. When one Loves God, the result will be loving people. When a Christian loves people it shows that he loves his God. The two commandments go together.

The first commandment when obeyed (“love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind”) results in a pleasing life to your Savior.

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 

(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .

Disciple of Christ

~ 7 Aspects of a Disciple of Jesus Christ ~

The Disciple’s Master  ~  “So when Jesus had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, ‘Do you know what I have done to you?  You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am.  If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one anothers feet.  For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.  Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him.  If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them’” (John 13:12-17). 

The Disciple’s Book  ~  “From childhood you [Timothy] have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.  All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:15-17). 

The Disciple’s Clothing  ~  “Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders.  Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for ‘God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.’  Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:5-7). 

The Disciple’s Badge  ~  Jesus said, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.  By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:34-35). 

The Disciple’s Cross  ~  “Now great multitudes went with Jesus.  And He turned and said to them, ‘If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.  And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.  For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it — lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, “This man began to build and was not able to finish”’” (Luke 14:25-30). 

The Disciple’s Fruit  ~  Jesus said, “I am the vine, you are the branches.  He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.  If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.  If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.  By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples” (John 15:5-8).

The Disciple’s Companions  ~  “At midnight I will rise to give thanks to You, because of Your righteous judgments.  I am a companion of all who fear You, and of those who keep Your precepts” (Psalm 119:62-63). 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 

(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .

Difficult People: 5 Actions

~ What Solomon Knew ~

Solomon was widely known for his wisdom (1 Kings 4:30, 10:24). Today he is considered by many to be among the wisest to ever live. His writings include the book of Proverbs. What does the book of Proverbs say about dealing with difficult people?

Five actions you can and should take. 

1.  Try To Avoid Useless Conflict  ~  “Go from the presence of a foolish man, when you do not perceive in him the lips of knowledge” (Proverbs 14:7). “He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with one who flatters with his lips” (20:19).

2.  When Unavoidable Deal With It Quickly  ~  “The beginning of strife is like releasing water; therefore stop contention before a quarrel starts” (Proverbs 17:14). “He who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own is like one who takes a dog by the ears” (26:17).  

3.  Don’t You Be Difficult With Them  ~  “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger” (Proverbs 15:1). “The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger, and his glory is to overlook a transgression” (19:11). “Do not answer a fool according to his folly, lest you also be like him” (26:4).  

4.  Keep Your Cool—Don’t You Lose It  ~  “Whoever has no rule over his own spirit is like a city broken down, without walls” (Proverbs 25:28). “A fool vents all his feelings, but a wise man holds them back” (29:11).  

5.  Do Not Seek Retaliation  ~  “Do not say, ‘I will do to him just as he has done to me; I will render to the man according to his work’” (Proverbs 24:29). “If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; for so you will heap coals of fire on his head, and the Lord will reward you” (25:21-22). 

If you act according the these five principles you will be exemplifying Christian Character. 

Finally recognize that difficult people are God’s problem and He will deal with them in His way and in His time. Sometimes tough love is required and you must commit the person into God’s hand which may require that they learn the hard way:

Let Them Learn the Hard Way  ~  “A man of great wrath will suffer punishment; for if you rescue him, you will have to do it again” (Proverbs 19:19). 

additional comment:   The book of Proverbs contains 31 relatively short chapters.  Many have found reading a chapter a day (corresponding to the date of the current month) has greatly increased their wisdom. 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 

(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .