Loving God And One Another

I.   Loving God
Proverbs 18:24bKing James Version (KJV) 24b. There is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
God is our creator.  He knew us even before we were born.  He is not a distant God that is unconcerned with our lives.  Sometimes our families let us down and so we imagine that God is that way.  But, His ways are higher than our ways. So, no, God is not ever going to let us down.

Genesis 1:27King James Version (KJV) 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

God created the natural world and He described it as "good."  He is a God who connects with His creation.  We are all special in God's eyes because He made us "in His image and likeness."  From the beginning God's intention was to have a close relationship with us.  Sin became a complicating factor when Adam and Eve chose to disobey God in the Garden of Eden.  Ever since then, it became a little complicated.

John 3:16King James Version (KJV) 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

God planned a way to straighten out this big mess through the atoning death of His Son Jesus Christ.  The Bible tells the story of how this all came about.  The Bible tells us that no one comes to the Father except through (Jesus) the Son.  Loving God first begins with developing a relationship to Jesus.

1 Peter 1:15-17King James Version (KJV) 15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. 17 And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:

As we study the Bible, we see that God sets His people apart.  He encourages us to be holy as He (God) is holy.  So, we try to act with character and treat people fairly. We dress modestly and treat our bodies in a way that is concordant with the knowledge that God is present.  We work hard, read the Bible and attend Church on Sunday.  Our leisure time is spent engaging in worthy pursuits.  We pray. In these ways we are loving God.

2Peter 1:3-7 King James Version (KJV) 3According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

II.  Loving One Another
Loving one another properly comes after we really get to know God.  When we understand godly principles for living, we can see people as God does.  The way God sees people is often in opposition to what we have learned.  Sometimes we have learned that we are number one and that has encouraged us to treat others with less than the respect that they deserve.  We think our needs come first so we use others in selfish ways and fail to serve.  We might have learned that "men are dogs" or "women are goldiggers" or a variety of other incorrect things.  The Bible teaches that this is not true and so God begins to heal our lives of wrong precepts. Then we learn virtue or right character in ourselves.  We increase in knowledge of the Bible and before you know it our relationships improve with our bosses, spouses, children and neighbors.