In part two of this series, I discussed the procedure for love and loving where it was revealed that it is not possible to love others without loving your Creator first with all your being, heart, soul, mind and strength.

In this part three of the series, I want to share with you another vital part of the procedure for love and loving. There is a standard to measure love and loving. It is a very clear standard measure that is very clear to anyone.

A Standard Measure.
In discussing the procedure for love and loving in part two, reference was made to Mark chapter 12:30-31. It was in verse 30 that you are instructed to love your Creator with the whole of your being.

The Standard Measure to use in love and loving is contained in verse 31 thus,
“[31]The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.” Mark 12.

The extent to which you can love others (your neighbor) is that which you love yourself. Meaning that as soon as you are sure of loving your Lord with all your heart, soul, mind and strength, tne immediate action to take is to love yourself without any reservations.

Why should you love yourself?
You were created in the image and likeness of God. So, you need to love yourself as you are loved by the Lord your God Who created you as Himself. It will take loving yourself to maintain that status forever. It is only by loving yourself that you can remain in Him and by that you will not abuse the privileges given you by Him.

Another reason you should love yourself is that, it is the standard by which you can love your neighbors. It is the yardstick to measure your love for others. You are not to love others less than you love yourself. When this happens, selfishness has set in; and this is not of God. It is the same percentage that you love yourself that you must love others. It must not be less than that.

Jesus Christ puts it this way,
[12]“Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.” Matthew 7.

Love is fulfilled in this simple statement. What you want others to do to you should be what you do to others. What you will not want anybody to do to you must not come to others from you.

If you do not want to be cheated, you should not cheat others. If you will not want to be deceived, you must not deceive others. If you will not want anybody to covet what you possess, should you covet what other people possess? No! Give to others what you hope to receive from them.

This was the undoing of Cain, the older brother of Abel. He feared what he did to his brother, Abel. What was it? He killed him. When asked for the whereabouts of his brother from him, his answer was he was not his brother’s keeper. Yet, he wanted someone to be his keeper so that he will not be killed as he killed Abel. He said, after his punishment was declared to him by God,
“[14]You have banished me from the land and from your presence; you have made me a homeless wanderer. Anyone who finds me will kill me!”
[15]The lord replied, “No, for I will give a sevenfold punishment to anyone who kills you.” Then the lord put a mark on Cain to warn anyone who might try to kill him.” Genesis 4.

A murderer did not want to be murdered. A fraudster does not want to be defrauded. A cheat does not want to be cheated.

Think about it yourself, do you want from others what you plan to do to them. It is a peak of demonstration of love. Do to others what you expect others to do unto you.

Are you looking for love and loving (lovers)? Are you one yourself? Let love and loving begin with you. The world will become a better place. Stay blessed and prepared for the imminent coming of the Lord.

Note:
All Scriptures quoted are from New King James Version of Holy Bible.
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It was in part one of this series that it was established that love still exists and people are still in love. Now in this second part, we are going to briefly examine the procedure to have love and the way to express it.

Procedure: Love and loving has a procedure to follow. No one who follows the procedure ever regret it. It was pointed out in part one that God is love, 1 John 4:8. That is why love and loving begin with you and Him. Jesus Christ counsels, in Mark 12:30-31
“[30]And you must love the lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’
[31]The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”
In verse thirty, you are in to love your Creator with the whole of your being. Every aspect of you and your life must be totally reserved for loving Him. He must be in charge of your heart, soul, mind and strength. His love must manifest in those areas of your total being. Nothing missing!

It is after this is done that you go ahead to demonstrate the love of God to your fellow man. It is in mankind that the love of God is known to be resident in you fully.

You will become a liar if you claim to love God but hate people He has created in His image and likeness. You will not be truthful about your claim to love Him, 1 John 4:20.
This simply means that you will be drawing from the pool of your love for the Lord your God to give people. You cannot exhaust it. That is when you can love even your enemies and pray for those who despitefully use you, Luke 6:28.

God Himself demonstrated His love to the world full of sin. How?
John 3:16
[16]“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”

Is a world full of sins and wickedness lovable? Yet, God demonstrated His love by making His only Son a propitiation for the wrongdoings of the world. It is a great sacrifice!

Do you ever claim to love Jesus Christ? How did you come about it? Is it your cleanliness, holiness, uprightness, righteousness or perfection that procured you the present status? No! It was God’s love. Apostle Paul reminds all in Romans 5:8 “But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” NLT.

Do you want to enjoy true love? Sow the seed first. Let it begin with you and your God. From you, it can spread to others who may reciprocate it or not. Let us meet in part three of this series, God willing. Stay blessed and prepared for the imminent coming of the Lord.

Note:
NLT is New Living Translation of the Holy Scriptures. This is the version used in this piece.
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In recent times, I have people who asked me whether or not love still exists. Others ask if people still fall in love. Not only that, on many platforms, it is a common question.

The truth remains that love exists. This is the truth for those who want to know. To know true love calls for knowing the source of love. The sole source of love is God. To know God is to know love.

Love is not according to individual interpretation of the word. Personal interpretation has given love so many colors that are not right. In an attempt to give love a private meaning, lust, evil desire and several attachments have been hooked to love. This has brought up more confusion than solution.

Are you looking for love? Was it lost? If you want love, look for it inside of you first. If it is missing in you, you may not find it. Otherwise, if you find it, you will not recognize or appreciate it at all.

Are you seeking for love? Then you are a love seeker. Why don’t you just change your status to a love giver? Are you ready to give love? Giving love will breed receiving the same.

Let me compare love to a house to inhabit. Many people are interested in living in a house of love but are not ready to build one. Are you ready to build love? Or are you ready to inhabit one built by another person?

Do you know what? Many people who are living in a house of love built by someone else end up abusing it. Why is this so? They do not have love but are just beneficiaries. This kind of people always ask for more love from their partners. They are love exploiters.

Therefore, stop looking for love or a true lover. Be a generator of a genuine love. Do not wait to be shown love. Be ever ready to show love. This cannot be possible except you love God Who is love. Jesus discloses,
“[30]And you must love the lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’
[31]The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.” Mark 12. New Living Translation, NLT.

If you follow this instructions, you will become a source of love. You will cease from looking for love that you desire. Stay blessed and prepared for the imminent coming of the Lord.

Note:
Let us meet in part two of this write up. May the Lord help you to share it with others in Jesus name. God bless you.