One of the quickest ways to lose the favour of God is disobedience. The moment you outgrow divine instructions, you are on the slippery path to destruction. No one will be against you but God’s word.

One way to look at this is to study the history of God’s chosen people, the Israelites. Every time they obey God and do His will, all is well. But the moment they go against God’s will and refuse to repent, God becomes their enemy and gives them over to their enemies.

Pride was the first and original sin and it was committed in heaven. This sin brought down the most decorated, powerful, and anointed angel from grace to hell. It became the only singular unpardonable sin because satan would not be content with the position where God place him, but would rather take the place of God.

This became an irreversible error, an unatonable sin and led to satan’s ultimate downfall. In contrast, we could see Jesus condescended and humbled himself to the point of death.

No one fights with God and wins. When Pharaoh tried it, he was drowned in the red sea. When Sennacherib spoke against the God of Israel, he returned back to his country in shame and then killed by his children.

You must never forget the scripture which says it is a dangerous thing to fall into the hand of the living God. Therefore, by all possible means, you must stay away from behaviours and lifestyles that will get God to become your enemy.

Of all the commandments that Jesus gave us on love, there is one which is very difficult for many people to come to terms with – Which is to love your enemies. How do we love an unlovable person? How do you love a person who is constantly looking out for your downfall?

It may be difficult but it is not a grievous commandment. Never forget that we were once God’s enemies but through His love, we were reconciled back to Him. Likewise, loving your enemies has great power to bring them out of darkness into the light of Christ.

Yesterday we started with the commandment on love and we examined the first face of this commandment, which is to love God. Today we will look at the next face which is to love our neighbours and brethren as ourselves.

The Lord said in John 15:12 – “This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you”.

The word of God further said, Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another – Romans 12:10.

Jesus said, if you love me, you will do what I command you (John 14:15). We must note again that obedience is proof of our love for Jesus. Today, we will look at another commandment which is “LOVE”.

There are three faces to this instruction and none of them is grievous, they are rather meant to bless us. Today we will be considering the first face which is to “Love God”.

One thing we must never forget is the fact that God loves us and He means the best for all in all situations. Just as a good Father with perfect foreknowledge He tried to guide us away from danger.

Our myopic nature however does block our perception of His dealings. Yet if God loves you, He will check you and discipline you. The Bible says that such corrective discipline by God is proof of our sonship (Hebrews 12:6-11).

Every time God ask us to do anything, we must understand that it is in our best interest. We must learn by principle and action to do those things which he approves and withdraw from those which He disapproves.

Anytime man goes against His commandments, that man is usually at the losing end. The story of Adam and Eve lays a proper template for everyone to learn. When God asked them not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, it was for their good, it was the only tree they had no access to, but they blew it and went for the fruit of that same tree.

Jesus is not in league with any other religion’s gods. He is the word from the beginning, the light to this darkened world. Men may reject Him but cannot deny His power and authority.

In the early stages of His ministry, many were astonished by His power and authority. Here’s how the Bible puts it, “And they were all amazed, and spake among themselves, saying, What a word is this! for with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out” Luke 4:36 KJV.

People may reject Jesus, and religious persons may gang up against Him, but He is still the Son whom the Father approves.

And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Matthew 3:17 KJV

The Bible says in our reading of the day that the kings and the rulers of the earth as simply wasting their time ganging up against Christ – they will soon be destroyed if they don’t back out. In the days of Jesus, many people tried to crush Him and His ministry but those men amounted to nothing.