This is based on Mark 12:29–31:
Jesus answered, “The first is this: Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.”
When we love God, we value ourselves and others. We do no harm to ourselves and no harm to others.
How many times must we explain that the thief (the devil, the evil one, the enemy of our soul) comes only to steal, kill, and destroy? How many times must we say that the devil has no friends, no respect for human life, no conscience — his nature is deceit, evil, and destruction?
Jesus exposes the devil clearly in John 10:10, saying, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”
Now more than ever, every eye in the home must be open — to see clearly the love we must have for one another, how we must care for each other, and keep one another in prayer. For the enemy prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
This is not the time to let our children live on their own, for the enemy respects no one. We must make every effort to keep unity in the family strong. We must take care of one another, for this is God’s commandment.
In Matthew 22:39, Jesus emphasizes: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Every time we see someone:
Leading another down the wrong path,
Abusing their neighbor,
Fighting with their neighbor,
Taking revenge without cause,
Profiting off their neighbor,
Destroying someone’s life,
Betraying their neighbor,
Selling drugs to their neighbor,
Selling weapons to their neighbor,
Hiding evil from their neighbor,
Encouraging their neighbor to go against the Word of God,
we must recognize the lack of love that exists in our community.
If we do not love one another, who will love us?
If we do not care for one another, who will care for us?
Let us not forget that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Now is the time to pause, look around, and ask: where are we going with so much evil? Because everyone should now realize that we are living in troubled times — difficult times — and it is time to care more than ever.
It is no coincidence that God’s Word says in James 4:7:
“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God, and He will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”
The presence of evil in the world is increasing, but so is the power of God for all who believe in Him, love Him, and love their neighbors.
Let us all do good to one another and live rightly with one another at all times.
Written by Pastor Marcel Balootje.