1 John 5:1-2Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God,

A friend at lunch declared “I just love God.” Now he went on and expanded on that but I was struck deeply by his opening comment. What does it mean to just love God? Even if you were to examine that declarative in a world view, how do we show love?

If you love someone you want to spend time with them. To love God one should pray, meditate, and read one’s bible.

If you love someone you want to share your inner self, allow them to know the real you. To love God one needs to confess themselves to God.

If you love someone you want to introduce them to your friends. To love God one professes one’s faith.

If you love someone you allow who they are to influence who you are, you find unity, oneness. To love God you are conformed into the image of Jesus Christ.

If you love someone you involve them in what you do. To love God you walk with Him in step knowing that you are doing all things together, either by His call or yours.

If you love someone you care about what they care about. To love God you will love who God loves.

If you love someone you speak highly of them, never disrespecting them. To love God you praise Him.

If you love someone you remain faithful. To love God you place your faith as a bond of relationship.

If you love someone you plan on marrying them. To love God you become espoused to His Son Jesus Christ.

If you love someone their love for you is everything. To love God you reflect the love He has for you.

Did you notice I failed to include the last line of 1 John 5:2? “and keep His commandments.” I did so because I did not want to confuse this issue with many laws and issues man deems necessary. People put expectations on people and I did not want to overburden you. Jesus said to love God and to love one another. If you love God you will do the second in doing the first. And what about all the rest of the commandments?

Matthew 22:40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

Just Love God.

Judges 12:6 Then said they unto him, Say now Shibboleth: and he said Sibboleth: for he could not frame to pronounce it right.

Shibboleth was used as a password to identify those who were posing as Israelites. It was a simple test, one which the posers could not pass. There is no such test in Christianity.

In the parable of the tares it was asked of the Lord if we should remove the tares from the wheat. His answer was this.

Matthew 13:29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.

At first glance is appears that the Lord is concerned for true believers, that they would be lost. But is that true?

John 10:27-29 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.

With this being true, then what concern should the Lord have that wheat be removed? It is that while tares hide among the wheat, the God of our salvation is all about conversion, transformation. Who is to say that a tare cannot become wheat? What would it take?

“Faith is the true Shibboleth.” The West Wing episode called “Shibboleth” circa 2000.

What if a tare were to place his/her faith in Jesus Christ? They would be transformed would they not? Who among the tares might find faith in Christ apart from being among the wheat? I do not know and neither do you. Being exposed to the truth gives them more of an opportunity to accept the truth than to be cast out.

It is not for us to judge, but to love.