Showing love is not the result of a single action. Love is seen through the seriers of events in a person’s life and is a pattern of thoughts and actions. It’s not the sum of one event or action. Although people say, “Only God can judge me” the truth is, we constantly judge one another and we determine whether or not we are loved by the things people say and do. The people of God must always reflect the thoughts and actions of rightouesness. We do reap what we sow.
“Hence Adonai repaid me for my uprightness, according to the purity of my hands in his view. With the merciful, you are merciful; with a man who is sincere, you are sincere; with the pure, you are pure; but with the crooked you are cunning.” Psalm 18:25(24) -27(26)
The Bible tells us repeatedly about the importance of our interacts with people. Unfortunately, many people are under the impression that God is only looking at their heart.
If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar. For if a person does not love his brother, whom he has seen, then he cannot love God, whom he has not seen. Yes, this is the command we have from him: whoever loves God must love his brother too. 1 John 4:20-21
One of the ways we show our love for God is how we love the people around us. God instructs us with these words from Leviticus 19:17-18
Do not hate your brother in your heart, but rebuke your neighbor frankly, so that you won’t carry sin because of him. Don’t take vengeance on or bear a grudge against any of your people; rather, love your neighbor as yourself; I am Adonai
Yeshua (Jesus) put it like this in Matthew 5:46-48
What reward do you get if you love only those who love you? Why, even tax-collectors do that! And if you are friendly only to your friends, are you doing anything out of the ordinary? Even the Goyim do that! Therefore, be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.
“Well, if they weren’t rude or didn’t do stupid things then I wouldn’t act this way. After all, they think kindness is a sign of weakness!”
The truth is when we love the people around us we are beginning the process of showing God that we love Him. The funny this is that loving only those who love you is loving with a scorecard. They did one nice thing so I paid them back with one nice thing. But that is not how we are to love. That’s not loving with an upright heart, it is not loving with pure hands, and it is not the way of God.
Love is not cruel, it is kind.
Love is not self-serving, it is generous.
Love is not dishonest, it is virtuous.
Love is not resentful, it is tender.
Love is not irrational, it is sober.
Consider not only your words but your tone. Sarcasm is not kindness and it is not tough love. Sarcasm is cruelty. Analyze not only your intentions (your heart and or your mind) but your actions (your body, body language, posture). Meaning well and doing the right thing are sometimes unrelated. Love does not have a problem with anothers success, as a matter of fact, love is happy for them. As the people of God our actions and words must line-up with the truth of God’s word.
Those who do not love, do not know God; because God is love. 1 John 4:8
From this you can know that Adonai your God is indeed God, the faithful God, who keeps his covenant and extends grace to those who love him and observe his mitzvot, to a thousand generations. Deuteronomy 7:9
How do your interactions show your love for the invisible God?
Torah Road 