Reflections: The Challenge and Excitement of The Committed Christian Life Volume 1
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REFLECTION 1: LOVING TOTALLY – OR NOT? (1,100)
Do you love God? Do I? I mean really, really love Him? Our eternal destiny and the meaning of our life on earth depend on the answer. Please do not glibly respond, “Sure I love God!” True love is other-centered, and so true love of God is Other-centered. Love is not love when it is proclaimed through fear or duty or because of a desire for personal gain (even Heaven!) Let’s go to the Bible: When a Scripture verse is so important, so basic – indeed, so essential – that it was ordered to be displayed prominently at home and even on one’s physical person, well, then it should make us sit up and pay attention. Thus we have this pivotal verse in the Old Testament Book of Deuteronomy: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.” (Deuteronomy 6: 4-9) Moses was God’s instrument in bringing this key and critical message to the people of Israel – a message that laid the very foundation of their religion and their spirituality.
Sadly, over the centuries, the passage remained for many, especially the religious leaders, the foundation of their religion but not their spirituality. The religious leaders were very good at following the letter of that command, but at the time of Jesus many of them had lost the spirit of it. Nevertheless, Jesus reinforced the importance of this message from God when He responded to the question from a Pharisee as to which was the greatest commandment in the Law: “’Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22: 37-39)
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About the Book
The book is intended as 1) a challenge to Christians to explore more deeply their Christian walk and 2) an introduction to non-Christians and nominal Christians of the true meaning of Christianity. There are 35 Reflections, each on an important aspect of the Christian life. At the end there are thought and discussion questions for each Reflection. The book is ideal for both individual and group study, prayer and discussion.
About the Author
Robert J. Burton is a dedicated Christian with a passion for Christians to commit 100% to the Christian life and for non-believers to find the beauty and truth of Christianity. He has written a previous book, entitled "Will the Real Christians Please Stand Up!" (Xulon Press). Bob does a three-minute program for the local Christian Radio Station, and has for almost three years. The Reflections in the book are based on these programs. Bob has been married 40+ years, and he and his homebound wife, Barbara, live in SW MO. They have four children and four grandchildren.