Pastor's Corner - Aug. 1, 2019

A lawyer once asked Jesus, “Teacher, what is the greatest commandment?” Jesus replied, “Love God with everything in you, and secondly love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:36-40). Who are our neighbors?

There are nine virtues that Paul writes about in the book of Galatians that describe what a life of a Christian should look like.

To put it plainly, if you want to live like Jesus, be sure that you are bearing the fruit of the Spirit. “Love” is the first one, since it is the foundation to the other graces. The type of the love that Paul is writing to the church in Galatia is “agape” -- to love the underserving, despite rejection and disappointment. It is the love that Jesus demonstrated on the cross for you and me.

I have discovered that it is simple to love those who are naturally lovable, but rather difficult to love people that might have hurt us, rejected us or that we feel do not deserve to be loved.

Paul is writing about a type of love that is not optional -- we don’t get to choose who we get to demonstrate our love to; rather, we must love like Jesus loves! Jesus knew that it would be difficult to love our neighbor at times, since our neighbors are all the people that surround us, and this is why he made it a commandment.

Friend, I encourage you that this week you love like Jesus loves!

Fernando Segura is pastor of Wasco Canyon Hills Church.