The Responsibilities of Love
Greetings and good morning, brothers and sisters. This is Dr. James Perry continuing with our series where we seek to explore the deeper meanings of our relationship with Jesus Christ. Over the years, the heavenly Father has revealed many revelations of spiritual truth to me, and I want to share them with you. This morning we will ponder our lives as we seek to understand the responsibilities of love.
And now, sit back and listen to today's message.
The Responsibilities of Love
"Then said Jesus unto his disciples, if any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me." Matthew, Chapter 16, Verse 24
Brothers and sisters, in today’’s broadcast we consider the responsibilities of love and hopefully clarify these responsibilities of those of us who have made an eternal commitment to operate in the spiritual realm while still treading the path of the mortal life, with its never-ceasing trials and tribulations that give birth to so many sighs and woes in our souls. We think this broadcast is needed because we know that there are some of us who are shirking from their spiritual responsibilities. We hope that this broadcast will make a spiritual appeal to their souls, at least that part of their souls that has not been frozen by apathy and selectivity. Some of us are very selective when carrying out our spiritual responsibilities. They have made the decision to respond to the cries of some but not all.
We further hope that this broadcast will open our hears to the cries of the needy. We hope that we can clarify the nature of the call for recognition purposes and hope to unplug the wax of indifference from the ears of our souls. Let us try to gently awaken from the deep sleep of unconcern. And we know they are in a deep sleep and are really enjoying it by their snores of contentment. Let’’s give, provide a gentle nudge: If you were walking side by side with an old lady hobbling along with a cane in the process of crossing a busy intersection, and she lost her balance, what reaction would this give birth to in your soul?
Would you feel the urge to help her or would you keep walking? Would you postpone this urge while you debated about the legal challenges that you may be subject to if something went awry in your effort to assist her? Or would you respond automatically without thinking to assist her?
Jesus said it is more blessed to give than to receive. ““If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’’s commandments and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto your, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full." Again says, Jesus, "When I invite you to love one another, even as I have loved you, I hold up before you the supreme measure of true affection, for greater love can no man have than this: that he will lay down his life for his friends. And you are my friends; you will continue to be my friends if you are but willing to do what I have taught you. You have called me Master, but I do not call you servants. If you will only love one another as I am loving you, you shall be my friends, and I will ever speak to you of that which the Father reveals to me." And what is it that Jesus speaks to our souls? It is none other than the values and meanings of the truth, beauty, and goodness of love. This continuous revelation of the meanings of these values within our souls is the sure proof that we have made a decision to move our souls out of its earthly home of temporal material meanings and values into its glorious home in the sky of eternal spiritual meanings and values.
All who feel deep down inside of themselves when viewing a brother or sister the desire to do good to them, those who feel the desire to shower them with divine mercy are hearing the spiritual call of divine love to go forth. Like Lazarus did, when called to come forth from the tomb, we must respond to the call. All who feel deep down inside that it is right to love our brothers and sisters, to relate to them in such a way that they receive the highest possible revelation of divine goodness are hearing the spiritual call of divine truth. All who perceive in their souls the righteousness of the eternal bond with those who are more fortunate with truth sharing with those who are less fortunate with truth endowments, those who view the unification of this exchange are hearing the spiritual call of divine beauty. And all of those who feel righteousness, the compelling morality of responding to one in need, the conviction that this is divine mercy in action are hearing the spiritual call of divine goodness. All that is required is to respond to the call.
And now that these calls have awakened our souls from their deep slumber, we who are desirous of operating in the spiritual realm, of advancing our beloved Jesus’’ sovereignty in the world, must arise and make haste for a whole world awaits our response to the divine call. We must be like a vicious dog who has broken the chain that restrained him and now is in hot pursuit of his victim. We must be aggressive in our display of divine love. We must not seek any quarter nor give any quarter. We must not yield one inch of ground of goodness to the weeds of evil. They will surrender to the divine mercy or will retreat from the divine field of goodness and mercy. We must be terrible and awesome, shocking and overwhelming in our assault upon the bastions of the evils of unbelief. When confronted with the evils of impatience, we must respond with the complete overwhelming force of patience and mercy. We must display the divine patience with eternal manifestation. We simply must not be moved with our display of divine patience. Others may back down when confronted with the hounds of impatience, but not us. We will prevail. Time is no match for eternity. Those who operate with impatience operate within the temporal sphere. But those haughty souls who operate with long suffering operate from the realm of eternity. Under the banner of the Spirit of Truth, we will be successful.
We must refuse to give up on one another. As a phrase from one of the gospel songs says, "I don’’t care if I have to pray all night long, or they call me everything but a child of God, I am staying with God." In prayer, we must constantly seek new insights to win over our brothers and sisters to the divine way. We must become impervious to the assaults of evil upon our persons. We know that nothing can harm us, for we are indestructible. Love is invincible. We must allow the spiritual light of love to radiate from us. And each day this light must get brighter and brighter. This light should be like a lighthouse, sitting high on a hill overlooking the dangerous sea of evil, beckoning to all who seek to find safe harbor in the arms of the faith status of divine sonship. And for those who have lost their way, those who are lonely, confused, mistrustful and bewildered, we must offer them friendship. We must extend the hand of brotherly love, and show them that we really appreciate them. They have intrinsic value. They are sons and daughters of the heavenly Father. And it is our privilege to introduce them to the delights of the Father’’s Kingdom.
We must be vigilant and ever on guard to the slightest cry for help. We must be like a watch dog, ever sensitive to intrusion into the area for which he is responsible. Responsibilities, indeed, but they don’’t feel like responsibilities for they are lost in that overpowering desire to love our brothers and sisters the way Jesus loves us. In volunteering for these missions of mercy, the only thing the volunteering son is concerned with is: Is it right? Is it wise? Is it true, beautiful, and good? Is it an act of love and mercy? And when the Father calls, the son answers enthusiastically: Here I am, Father, send me!
This concludes today's message on understanding the responsibilities of love. We hope you find something in this message to ponder and pray about as you go about your day.
Until next time, this is Dr. James Perry.
Your Kingdom Come; Your Will Be Done!
Inspirational Messages
By Dr. James Perry
The Responsibilities of Love.
