“Demonstrate Your Love For God By Helping Someone In Need!”

“Demonstrate Your Love For God By Helping Someone In Need!”
“An expert in the law stood us to test Jesus”, asking to know what he “must do to inherit eternal life?”
Jesus gave it back to him: “What is written in the law? How do you read it?”
For Israel this was the heart of the law: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength”(Deut.6:4-5).However God is not visible to humanity so this love of God could be accomplished only through actions of love towards fellow humans. So the law said, “Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbour as yourself…”(Lev.19:18).
The expert of the law knew this quite well, but he still raised the question which is still relevant today, “And who is my neighbour?” To answer this question Jesus told him the story of the man attacked by armed robbers on the Jericho road. He was robbed and left for dead. A priest as well as a Levite passed by but did nothing to help. But a Samaritan saw him, took pity on him, took care of his wounds and carried him to an inn and paid for all his expenses.
Jesus then asked, “Which of these three do you think was a nieghbour to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” The expert of the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise”(Lk.10:25-37).
You cannot claim to love God if you do not love your neighbour. When you do not love, be sure you do not know God “because God is love…Whoever lives in love, lives in God, and God in him.” This is the only way by which love is made complete, because “God is love”(I Jn.4:7-16a).
Love for God is not an abstraction! To love God is a demonstrable action of concern to fellow man in need! As we say, “A friend in need is a friend indeed!”
Love is made actionable when we learn to right the wrongs we did to others. If not to them, then to their offsprings!(II Sam.9:1-11).
Bottomline is that it is love in action that distingushes us as those who love God!
My friend, it is not enough to “hold your neighbour tellam say ‘I love you well, well, God bless your soul…” Rather demonstrate love by carrying out an action that puts a smile and brings hope to someone who needs it.
Sunday prayer: Lord help me to demonstrate my love for you by doing good to someone who is in need. Amen!
Have a blessed Sunday! Peace be with you!