Then you back to the teaching of 1 John and 2 John to remember how love is played out in those two commandments. Then, if you look backwards into the other epistles, and gospels, you see more ways to apply love to our Father in heaven, such as no idols. The old testament is strewn with storyafter story of examples as to how to love God, abd His love for us.
It is vital to put God first and foremost in all parts of our life. Not that we “have to” (such as people who think it relates to salvation), but the true love comes from the “want to”, the clamoring to get His attention as a child seeks the attention of thier father, to serve Him and become part of his daily activities. A child watches thier father to learn how to mimic them, because they respect them, and love them. The two are synonymous in my opinion. Children ask most of the time, in healthy families, to know and do what the father is doing. They ask questions and correct thier behavior. The “good” father corrects, disciplines, and encourages. The kid’s desire is to please him as they do it, because of that love and respect. It is a familial situation. I believe that is how it is for us.
Then the love of our neighbor (similar to relationships between siblings) requires that humility of mind and keeping that in check, as we interact with them in wisdom, truth, meekness, and patience. God made it clear, there is no one above another, but the name and soverignty of Jesus Christ, His Son. There is no partiality between us.
We need to keep those aspects in check "because" of the love we have for Abba and Yeshua. We reflect God's behavior because of His exhortations (correction, rebuke, and encouragement), as we dig in and mimic our Savior Jesus Christ, as He told us to.
The disciples are our additional benchmark to support that growth, as each human being is unique and has certain personality traits that are similar to one or more of the 12, including Paul.
Jesus is known as our exemplar model. The perfect example. The disciples are our guardrail, so to speak. What "to do" and " not to do" as we walk, go through trials, and learn more and more about our perfect Father Yahweh, and our wonderful Savior and King, Jesus our Lord.
What a wonderful journey we get to experience, once we learn our planned future, God has for us…our new name, our new abode, our new bodies, and our new roles.
The most fascinating thing for me is getting to see Abba and Yeshua, get hugs as much as I want, and truly love Him with no doubt that He is being shown love in my actions, thoughts, and words. This flesh is a prison, keeping me from being completely free from sin and the terrible effects of this present world…i.e. Satan and his cronies.
Praise be to God for His faithfulness, love, long suffereing, mercy, grace, kindness, gentleness, gosh…so much more to be said.
Bless the Lord oh my soul! To love Him being whole. To walk with Him hand in hand. To serve Him with all that I am. I worship Him night and day. He is my life and breath, and one day…I will get to hug Him and lean in…listening to Him fully, with complete love and confidence, knowing I heard Him properly. Bless the Lord, oh my soul, because one day He will be face to face with me, and we will be together forever, to be what we were made to be. His children, and He our God and Father. He our Best Friend and Husband. Magnify and glorify His name oh my breath, my mind, my soul. He is ours and our One True Holy God, worthy to be praised, glorified, and honored! Amen Amen and Amen.
Psalm 8: