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Your Question:
How do we prioritize love when the world is against us?
Answer:
As I reflect on how to prioritize love when the world is against us, I'm reminded of the biblical hierarchy of love. According to Scripture, we must love God first and foremost, and then love our neighbors as ourselves. This means that if there's a conflict between our love for God and our love for others, or even our love for ourselves, we must prioritize our love for God. This is not to say that we don't love others, but rather that our love for God is paramount. When the world is against us, it's easy to get caught up in loving the wrong things or people. We may feel a predilection towards certain groups or individuals, but we must remember that our love for God is the controlling love. This means that we must be willing to make sacrifices and prioritize our love for God, even if it means going against the cultural norms or expectations of those around us. As Jesus said, "Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13). This kind of love is not just about feelings, but about actions and sacrifices. In my own life as a pastor, I've seen this play out in the lives of my congregation. When we prioritize our love for God, it often means making difficult choices and sacrifices, but it's in those moments that we experience true love and devotion. As I teach my congregation, "Love for God will exhibit single-mindedness (purity of heart), obedience, and worship. On the human level, love toward others means sacrificing for their well-being without the motivation of personal gain." By prioritizing our love for God, we can experience true love and devotion, even in the midst of a world that may be against us.
Sources:
biblical critical theory
christopher watkin
introduction biblical ethics
robertson mcquilkin
right thinking in age of chaos
john macarthur
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