Love One Another

“This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” This commandment appears thirteen times in twelve verses in the New Testament.

Jesus was concerned how his children would live with each other after His ascension into heaven.  In his great wisdom, Jesus introduces to them a new commandment of love for one another and he says “love one another as I have loved you”. He had set a good example, and thus Christ was comfortable that they would manage to co-exist peacefully even without His physical presence.

The only thing that should get into our ears without filtering is the word of God. This way we will be able to cultivate good morals, if what is inside us is Godly. Every thought not destroyed, graduates into an act. Thus if we allow graduation of positive thoughts then our society will be full of good acts.

If a man says, I love God, and hate his brother, he is a liar: for he that loves not his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? My dear children of God, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.  If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? 

And lastly but not the least, don’t let anyone tell you that you are not good enough, God did not make a mistake by creating you. I end with Romans 13:8 - Owe no man anything, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.

Charles Joseph- Youth

Easter Flashback

When I look back at the many events and situations that happened before, during and after the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, I feel extremely advantaged to learn that all this happened for my own salvation. Allow me share some few individuals that were part of these events.

I start with Judas whom history tells us that he was a treasurer, a position that even today is given to trusted people. Unfortunately, it is in his stronghold of being trustful with money that Judas met his temptation of selling his Master for 30cents and terribly failed. History judges him harshly because despite of his having stayed with Jesus, he never believed in his forgiveness. He committed suicide.

Simon Peter, we read that he was a very close and a great friend of Jesus. He had promised to be with Jesus whenever and wherever he would go, but he denied his master three times before the cock crew. Fortunately, Simon believed in forgiveness and was forgiven. Sometimes I think, Simon had committed bigger sin than Judas coz he did it three times in the same night and he very well knew the consequences that would befell Christ. Judas might not have taken his time to meditate of the consequences. Judas betrayed Jesus for thirty cents, Simon denied him three times.

A clever thief crucified with Jesus whose name is not mentioned is believed to be celebrating with angels in heaven. This man in his last moments on the cross was humble enough to tell Jesus to remember him in his kingdom. He was a brilliant thief, he stole the kingdom of heaven and today he is a shareholder. His counterpart on the other side of Jesus, pride and arrogance denied him a chance to heaven yet he was so close.

Space forces me to conclude here by saying, never miss an opportunity to repent your sins and never miss an opportunity to do the right thing. We don’t live holy for God to bless us, we live holy because it’s our nature. Have a good day my dear people of God!!

Charles Joseph - Youth