“What is my responsibility?” one may ask. Love the Lord your God with all your heart (Mark 12:29-31). This tempers all things. Life will be right if this command is followed. “Love to God must fill the whole heart, the whole soul” [C.E.W. Dorris]. The statements of the Lord are the same from days of old (Deut. 6:5)—endorsed by Jesus. This comes first before anything else: love God with your all.
If you love God, then you’ll keep His commandments (John 14:15). The commands of one you love are not grievous (I John 5:3), but rather a labor of love which is our labor in the Lord.
If we love one another, then we are His disciples (John 13:35). Marked by their love for one another, the early church turned the world upside down! They loved God and loved each other. Those outside were drawn into Christ by the loving fellowship observed. In some of the worst persecution the world has ever known, early Christians stayed together, supported one another, and praised God through it all. Love is a most effective evangelism tool.
If we love the church Christ built, then we’ll care for it. Not the building, but the people, the souls. The apostle Paul carried a great weight—he cared for the churches (II Cor. 11:28). All the congregations were his concern. He had helped plant many of them, but they were God’s family. He loved and cared for his family in Christ. Peter said, “love the brotherhood” (I Pet. 2:17). Do you?
If we love the Lord, then it shows. It will be seen in sacrifice and work (I Cor. 15:58). One will sacrifice much for that which they love. Our behavior declares our love. If we love our fleshly family, we behave in such a way as to declare it. If we love our spiritual family, the higher calling, our behavior declares it (I Tim. 3:15). What we say and do will be done strictly by the authority of Christ our Saviour (Col. 3:17). When we speak as Christians, it will not be with blessings and cursing (James 3:10), but will be as the oracles of God (I Pet. 4:11) serving Him by and through our time and talent.
If we love God, what will our home look like? Children will be obedient to parents, because parents will be providing leadership and guidance in the home (Eph. 6:1-4). Our attitude toward the preaching and teaching of the word of God will be like Hannah of old (I Sam. 1), great respect for God, or like Lois and Eunice (II Tim. 1:5), a grandmother and mother who knew and respected the scriptures, and gave instruction, making our children like Timothy—wise unto salvation.
The world around us knows the difference. Some seem to think they can play a part, acting out a charade. The charade may fool for a little while, but will not last because it is false. Love as God desires is genuine, pure both seen and heard in our lives. The message from old to new is that it all starts with love. Loving God with all our heart, soul and mind, that leads us to our neighbors, loving them as we love ourselves.
-David Hill, President of Tennessee Bible College