"You Shall Love . . ."

News headlines this past week were not of the type to make one feel very good about what is happening worldwide. Last Friday in Dallas, Texas five policemen were murdered trying to restore order during an anti-police demonstration. We also learned from Iran that they along with Hezbollah have 100,000 missiles ready to use during an attack on Israel. Iran made this announcement as their own "final solution" for the problem of Israel. 

Additionally, 50,000 young people are attending a summer camp in Gaza. When we think of summer camps, we normally think of swimming, playing games and bonfires. No, not in Gaza which is under the control of Hamas, a terror organization. These 50,000 young people are being trained to be terrorists in this summer camp.

How do we who know Jesus as our Lord and Savior and love Israel respond to all this negative news? Mark 12:30-31 says,

"And you shall love The Lord your God with all your heart, 

with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength. 

This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this; 

you shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no

 other commandment greater than these." 

There is a very uplifting story as part of the events in Dallas which I believe illustrates "Loving Your Neighbor" in very difficult circumstances. The Dallas Chief of Police approached a long line of demonstrators and said the following, "Instead of standing in a line shouting anti-police slogans, why don't you join us and become policemen to help solve these difficulties? We will even send you back to function in your own neighborhood." This was a response of love in a very challenging environment.

Our Lord God also declares in Deuteronomy 6:4-9,

Here, O Israel; The Lord our God, The Lord is one! 

You shall love The Lord your God with all your heart,

 with all your soul and with all your might. 

And these words which I command you today 

shall be in your heart; you shall teach them diligently 

to your children, and shall talk of them when 

you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, 

when you lie down and when you rise up. 

You shall bind them as a sign on your hand 

and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 

You shall write them on the doorposts of

 your house and on your gates."

Our Lord God gives to all of us a clear format of how to function in a challenging world. He desires for us to love Him first with all our heart, soul and strength. Then He desires for us to teach these principles to our children and to all people as He gives us opportunity. What a different world we would live in if God's people practiced Matthew 12:30-31 and Deuteronomy 6:4-9.

May The Lord Bless You And Keep You This Day And Each Day,

Frank