"We love because God first loved us," 1 John 4:19

Passages

Do we love with mere sentimentality repeating words such as "I love you," saying to a person in need "I wish you well," or listening to or reading God's Holy Word all without further action? Apostle John said, "Children, let us love not in word or speech but in deed and in truth" (1 John 3:11-[18]). 

"For God so loved the world, as to give his only begotten Son; that whosoever believeth in him, may not perish, but may have life everlasting" (John 3:1-[16]-21).

 By believing in Jesus, we act upon His Holy Word which is unchangeable Truth.

 So, "...Master, what must I do...?" Jesus said, "If you love me, keep my commandments" (John 14:[15]-31):

The first and greatest commandment, with love going first to God and then to others, is: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart, with thy whole soul, with all thy strength, and with all thy mind and thy neighbor as thyself." "...do this and you will live" (Luke 10:25-28).

Accordingly, if we love God, we "...keep holy the LORD'S Day..."; we worship God as He chooses, not as we choose. Jesus founded the one, true Roman Catholic Church, see Matthew 16:13-[18]-19, and by knowing and understanding Jesus' Holy Word of Truth, we will never disregard or leave His Church which is His perfect Will for us. 

To love God we sacrificially follow His beloved Son, Christ Jesus, through His one and only Church focusing on eternal life: 

• With humble repentance and obedience, prayerful, praising hearts adoring God observing His just due, and thankfulness for His blessing to choose us, even before the foundation of the world, for the purpose of spending eternity with Him, see Ephesians 1:3-6. 

• With faithful, trusting souls indelibly marked by His Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation that pour out the Holy Spirit, sanctifying us, see Acts 2:14-[38-39]-41; Romans 5:1-[5]-11; John 8:31-32.

• With strengths that are weak yet made strong, pure, temperate, morally courageous, and fortified when we cooperate with the sufficient grace from His Sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Eucharist to persevere in fruitful works, see 2Corinthians 12:1-[9-10]; John 20:19-23; 6:1-[53-56]-70. 

• With open, prudent minds, through biblical contemplation and understanding, that come to know, love and serve God, see 1 John 4:7-[8]-21.

To love others we must perform heartfelt, merciful works.

The chief corporal, merciful works which help needs of the body: 

• Feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, visit the imprisoned, shelter the homeless, visit the sick and bury the dead.

The chief spiritual, merciful works which help needs of the soul (more important than the corporal works because the soul is more important than the body): 

• Admonish the sinner, instruct the ignorant, counsel the doubtful, comfort the sorrowful, bear wrongs patiently, forgive all injuries, and pray for the living and the dead.

Jesus said, "...whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me" (Matthew 25:31-[40]-46).

"...love one another, as I have loved you,..." (John 13:31-[34]-35). 

 

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