LOVE IS ETERNAL AND WE ARE EVALUATED ON IT!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 08, 2022.

SUBJECT : LOVE IS ETERNAL AND WE ARE EVALUATED ON IT! 

Memory verse: "And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love." (First Corinthians 13 vs 13.)

READ: Matthew 25 vs 31 - 46:

25:31: When the Son of man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory.

25:32: All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats.

25:33: And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left.

25:34: Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

25:35: For I was hungry and you gave Me food: I was thirsty, and you gave Me drink: I was a stranger, and you took Me in:

25:36: I was naked, and you clothed Me: I was sick, and you visited Me: I was in prison, and you came to Me.’

25:37: Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and gave a You drink? 

25:38: When did we see You a stranger, and take You in? Or naked, and clothe You?

25:39: Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?

25:40: And the King shall answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, Inasmuch as you’d I’d it to one of the least of these My brethren, you have done it to Me.’

25:41: Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

25:42: For I was hungry, and you gave Me no food: I was thirsty, and you gave Me no drink:

25:43: I was a stranger, and you you did not take Me in: naked, and you did not clothe Me: sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.’

25:44: Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we You hungry or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister to You?’

2545: Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’

25:46: And they will go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

INTIMATION:

God tells us to make Love a top priority in our life because it has eternal value. Love is the greatest of all human qualities, and it is an attribute of God Himself. Today people are still confused about love. Love involves unselfish service to others, to show it gives evidence that you care. Love leaves a legacy. How you treated other people, not your wealth or accomplishments, is the most enduring impact you can leave on earth. As mother Teresa said, "It's not what you do, but how much love you put into it that matters." Love is the secret of a lasting heritage. In our final moments we all realize that relationships are what life is all about. Wisdom is learning that truth sooner rather than later. Don't wait until you're on your deathbed to figure out that nothing matters more than love.

It is a common knowledge that people only remember their loved ones when they are in critical conditions of ill health or near death. This is the time they stand on the edge of eternity, and they never ask of any other thing than their loved ones. I have never heard that anyone said, "Bring me my money in the bank! I want to look at my degrees, and awards one more time. Show me my medals, that gold trinkets I acquired! I want to see all my possessions that I can feel them again." When life on earth is ending, people don't surround themselves with objects. What we want around us is people—the loved ones and those we have relationships with.

In the passage we read today, Jesus tells about The Final Judgment. We will be evaluated on love in eternity. One of the ways God measures spiritual maturity is by the quality of your relationships. In heaven God won't say, "Tell Me about your career, your bank account, your titles, your possessions, and your hobbies." Instead He will review how you treated other people, particularly those in need. 

No wonder all the “Ten Commandments” of God are relationship based. Those who have done well in their love and relationships He will keep on His right side, and declares rather righteous. He will tell them: “Come, you blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; For I was hungry, and you gave Me food: I was thirsty, and you gave Me drink: I was a stranger, and you took me in. Naked, and you clothed Me: I was sick, and you visited Me: I was in prison, and you came to Me.”

And the righteous will answer Him, saying, Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, ....or thirsty....or a stranger....or sick....or naked....or in prison, and come to You.' And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.'

Then He will also say to those on the left hand, 'Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not take Me in; naked and you did not clothe Me; sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.' Then they also will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You, hungry or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?' Then He will answer them, saying, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.' And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

Now look at these statements, "Then shall the righteous answer Him, saying,.." (vs 37), "And these shall go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life." (vs 46). Have you seen that showing love is also counted to you for righteousnesses. Those who showed love—cared for other people, Christ called the righteous on His right hand, and He crowned them with eternal life with Him. When you transfer into eternity, you will leave everything else behind. All you're taking with you is your character, your relationship with God, and people. That is why the Scripture says, "In Christ Jesus nothing avails anything except faith expressing itself through love." (Galatians 5 vs 6.) 

Faith is the base or substructure and substance of God's message. Without faith in the Word (message), you can't go far with God, and His things. (Hebrews 11 vs 6.) Hope is the positive attitude and focus on God and His Word. Love is the action proper. When faith and hope are in line, you are free to love completely because you understand now God and His love nature. 

Prayer: Abba Father, Your love is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given to us. Give me the grace, O Most High God, to lead a life of Your love nature to obtain Your approval and Your crown of eternal life with You, in Jesus’ most wonderful Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!