It is Hard to Learn to Love

Pastor Dale reflects on the challenge of living out two key commandments from Jesus: to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind, and to love our neighbors as ourselves. Despite years of faith, Pastor acknowledges that fully obeying these commandments is a lifelong journey, with constant self-reflection and growth. He emphasizes that these two commandments encapsulate all of God’s law and teachings.

 Pastor stresses the importance of love within the Christian community, drawing on scriptures from 1 John and the Gospels to illustrate that loving God is intrinsically linked to loving others. He points out that true discipleship requires abiding in Christ, which is demonstrated through loving one another. This mutual love is essential for personal spiritual growth and for experiencing God’s presence.

 Pastor also addresses the challenges of loving others, especially when hurt or betrayed, but insists that the ability to love others is necessary for a deeper relationship with God. He clarifys that loving others doesn’t mean accepting all behaviors, but it does involve correcting one another in love under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, not through personal judgment.

 Ultimately, he encourages believers to focus on the simplicity yet depth of these two commandments: loving God and loving others. This, they argue, is the path to abiding in the vine and growing in faith.