Living As Light

Category: living from the Gospels

  • When you reach the end of yourself!

    Pride will keep a man from seeking God. He’ll keep running from God and turning to himself and his own human resources to figure out life’s problems.  Then, when he’s reached the end of his rope, anxiety takes over.  Having run out of answers, he turns to God in desperation.

    I know this feeling and this place. I’ve been there before. If there’s one thing I’ve learned about God over the years is that He’s always there, like a loving father, waiting on His children; especially when they’ve run out of answers, and they’re desperate for help.

    God is our helper; the Holy Spirit is just that; our Helper and Comforter.  Jesus told His disciples, ” I will not leave you hopeless and helpless, like orphans. I will send the Helper in my name, even the Spirit of truth…

    So to those who are in this place, stop running away or turning from God. Seek Him and His kingdom and His righteousness, first and foremost on all that you do. And when life’s problems turn your way, they won’t stress you out. You’ll be enabled by the Holy Spirit to rise above such times.

    There is great joy and peace in keeping God’s word; His commandments, in faithful obedience. May His peace, which surpasses our understanding, guard your heart and mind, in Christ Jesus 🙏 ❤️

    John 14:15-18 NKJV
    [15] “If you love Me, keep My commandments. [16] And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— [17] the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. [18] I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.

  • Is your lamp trimmed and ready?

    Keep oil in your lamps

    Matthew 25:1-13 NKJV
    [1] “Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. [2] Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. [3] Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, [4] but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. [5] But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. [6] “And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ [7] Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. [8] And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ [9] But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ [10] And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. [11] “Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ [12] But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ [13] “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.

    https://bible.com/bible/114/mat.25.1-13.NKJV

    Isaiah 61:1-3 NKJV
    [1] “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, Because the Lord has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound; [2] To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn, [3] To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.”

    https://bible.com/bible/114/isa.61.1-3.NKJV

    Things that happen naturally within our human nature:
    Anger
    Greed
    Lust
    Pride and ego
    Jealousy/envy
    Gossip
    Hatred

    It takes the supernatural filling and the indwelling presence of God, through the Holy Spirit, to douse the fiery darts that attempt to strike us on the inside, when circumstances on the outside and surrounding us are allowed to penetrate and intensify, adding fuel to the fire that the enemy seeks to fan into an inferno, burning us from the inside out. This is where the seeds of anger, pride, lust and greed take root and become like rot within our soul.  Like rust, or an infectious disease, like leprosy, eating away at our soul.

    In the parable of the ten virgins. Jesus compares five who kept their lamps trimmed with oil. They had enough oil to keep their lamps burning bright until that day when the Bridegroom arrived for the wedding feast.

    The other five had no oil in their reserve tank. As they were awaiting the Bridegroom’s arrival, their lamps dimmed and started to fade. Instead of being prepared, like the others were, they grew lazy and defiant.

    Our spiritual lives are much like this parable. Some members of the body of Christ keep their lamps filled with oil and burning brightly, so that others can see their lamps and find their way to the wedding feast.
    There are others who know that the wedding feast is near, yet they spend time foolishly, on earthly pursuits; gaining wealth and material prosperity. They become friends with this world; carnal Christians who have become spiritual adulterers and adulteresses. Their lamps or vessels, which are figurative of their soul and spirit, are flickering and fading, because they’re not working out their faith with fear and trembling. They’re not doing anything to grow in the Spirit, so they’re becoming stagnant and unfruitful in their works of faith.


    The five who were ready when the Bridegroom (Christ) returned, went in. The other five were too busy, scrambling at the last minute at what they should have been doing all along; keeping their lamp/vessel, filled with oil and burning brightly.

    One was prepared and ready. The other was not.

    Be prepared. Keep your lamp/vessel trimmed with oil and ready for His return

    Some have said that the ten who had oil, could have given some to the others,afterall, that would be loving their neighbors as themselves.

    But this parable is more about personal accountability and responsibility before God. Everyone of us must workout our own salvation, with fear and trembling.

    We can’t just wait til the last minute and think that we’ll be rewarded for living frivolously and without care and preparation.

    Faith without works is a dead faith, and that’s why these five foolish virgins were denied. No works of faith became a dead faith

    James 2:26 NKJV
    [26] For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

    https://bible.com/bible/114/jas.2.26.NKJV

  • Love your enemies. Bless them. Do good to them. Pray for them.Why should I do that?

    Matthew 5:44-45 NKJV
    [[44] But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, [45] that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

    https://bible.com/bible/114/mat.5.44-45.NKJV

    Luke 6:27-28 NKJV
    [27] “But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, [28] bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you.

    https://bible.com/bible/114/luk.6.27-28.NKJV

    Romans 12:19-21 NKJV
    [19] Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. [20] Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.” [21] Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

    https://bible.com/bible/114/rom.12.19-21.NKJV

    Luke 23:34 ESV
    [34] And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments.

    https://bible.com/bible/59/luk.23.34.ESV

    Acts 7:60 ESV
    [60] And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

    https://bible.com/bible/59/act.7.60.ESV

    1 Peter 3:9 ESV
    [9] Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.

    https://bible.com/bible/59/1pe.3.9.ESV

    Love your enemies. Bless them. Do good to them. Pray for them.Why should I do that?

    So that I’m not overcome by evil, but instead, I am able to overcome evil with good.

    My actions as a Christian, as a follower of Jesus Christ, can either draw people to him, or turn them off and cause them to turn away from God in their own heart and mind. Jesus asks His followers to live as he lived, love as he loved, and serve as he served, thereby glorifying the Father in heaven.

    When someone does me dirty, disrespects me, even lies about me and slanders my name, my first human reaction is to defend myself. The second is to not only take offense, but to become angry, bitter and resentful. The thoughts of getting even and planning my defense and pay back can consume me and take me down a path towards darkness and hatred, which leads to self destruction of my emotional and mental health, which can contribute to my physical health.

    So who am I really hurting and destroying by holding onto all of these negative feelings and emotions?

    Furthermore, am I really hurting the other person by allowing what they said or did to consume me and occupy my heart, mind and soul; aka renting space in my head?

    Freely forgiving others of their trespasses against me does more to free up my heart, mind and soul, than it does for the offender. Furthermore, it puts the whole thing in God’s hands and our faith and trust in Him will allow us to believe that vengeance is His and He will repay accordingly.

    The Bible says that when we forgive others and refrain from getting even, and leave the matter in God’s hands, we’re “heaping coals of fire/shame on their head”

    Is it better to get even, or for the other person to become convicted in their heart and see within themselves, that they’ve offended you, and apologize and ask for forgiveness?

    So often we tend to demonize offenders and exaggerate and embellish the actual offense they have committed against us. If their trespasses against us included anything illegal or against the law, let law enforcement and the courts deal with it. Take it out of your hands and control and let others come to your aid.

    Even if an offense isn’t anything illegal, but merely words and/or actions that are highly offensive and have caused you great pain and agony, don’t allow that to rob you of your own inner peace and joy.
    As much as we’re able to, we’re to live at peace with others; including those we may sharply disagree with, and especially those who disagree with us so much that they become aggressive and controlling, etc. it’s ok to remove yourself from such people and not associate with them.

    If we can’t agree to disagree, and still maintain mutual respect, then unfriend them on social media, even block those who want to argue with you and occupy your mind and rob you of your peace.

  • The power of words

    Our words carry weight

    Proverbs 21:23 NKJV
    [23] Whoever guards his mouth and tongue Keeps his soul from troubles.

    https://bible.com/bible/114/pro.21.23.NKJV

    We can use our words wisely, with discretion and discernment, or speak idly, which is to talk, just to talk, with no purpose or anything productive or of value.

    Gossip can be a form of idle talk. Such people are often known as busy bodies, meddling in the affairs of others and not minding their own business. 

    God’s word instructs us to use our words with wisdom; godly wisdom. It’s better to use our words carefully instead of carelessly.

    A wise person will refrain from speaking, even biting their tongue as the Holy Spirit convicts and guides, instead of using their words foolishly.

    Often we speak off the top of our heads, out of our feelings and emotions. When someone says something spiteful or evil to, or against us. The natural tendency is to bite back with our own words of retaliation, to get even.

    Jesus tells us in the Gospels that we will be held accountable for every idle word we speak; that is, every word that comes out of our mouths that is meaningless, or spoken with malicious intent. Every time we speak falsely against someone, or tell stories that aren’t true, every word of gossip or slander, even to get even or retaliate against those who have transgressed against us with their tongue and words .

    Jesus instructs us to love our neighbor as ourselves, to practice the golden rule, which is to treat others the way we want to be treated, freely forgiving others for the things they say against us, which are often spoken out of anger or despair, or lack of understanding. Our words, and that of others, can and often are taken out of context .

    Godliness includes pursuing holiness and righteousness, and a part of that is learning when and when not to speak.

    Our words carry consequences; we will reap what we sow, good or bad. We can use our words wisely, watching the door of our mouths, or we can use them foolishly, blurting things out, without any thought as to who they will hurt or effect. But rest assured, every person will give an account to God on judgement day. If we’ve used our words to hurt others or treat them unfairly, God will hold us accountable.

    If, on the other hand, we’ve watched our words, especially when we’ve heard gossip or false witness against our neighbor, and have avoided joining in, even defending others against such idle chatter, or otherwise letting “talebearers” and gossips know what God’s word says about such things.

    Remembering that our words have power can keep us from speaking idly and use our words to glorify God, by lifting others up, strengthening and encouraging them. We can pray for and with others, which is a great way to use our words to bring life instead of death.

    Our words have power! If we would give thought to every word, before they slip off of our tongue, we would avoid unnecessarily offending others. But living that way requires a close knit relationship with the Living God, and allowing the power of His Word to transform us by the renewing of our minds. We need to be intentional about receiving the power of His word, so that we might learn to use our words more wisely.

    Proverbs 18:21 ESV
    [21]  Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.

    https://bible.com/bible/59/pro.18.21.ESV

    Matthew 12:33-37 NKJV
    [33] “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. [34] Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. [35] A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. [36] But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it on the day of judgment. [37] For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

    https://bible.com/bible/114/mat.12.33-37.NKJV

    Proverbs 4:23-27 NKJV
    [23] Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life. [24] Put away from you a deceitful mouth, And put perverse lips far from you. [25] Let your eyes look straight ahead, And your eyelids look right before you. [26] Ponder the path of your feet, And let all your ways be established. [27] Do not turn to the right or the left; Remove your foot from evil.

    https://bible.com/bible/114/pro.4.23-27.NKJV

    Proverbs 12:17-19 NKJV
    [17] He who speaks truth declares righteousness, But a false witness, deceit. [18] There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword, But the tongue of the wise promotes health. [19] The truthful lip shall be established forever, But a lying tongue is but for a moment.

    https://bible.com/bible/114/pro.12.17-19.NKJV

  • At the sound of a trumpet, the trumpet of God!

    In Scripture, trumpets hold significant symbolism and practical use, often representing divine communication, divine authority, and God’s intervention in human affairs. They are used to announce God’s presence, call people to worship, guide them in battle, and herald both judgment and redemption.

    Examples in Scripture:
    Numbers 10: Details the use of silver trumpets for various purposes, including calling the assembly, directing the camp, and signaling war.


    Joshua 6: The trumpets blown by the priests brought down the walls of Jericho.


    Revelation 8-11: The seven trumpets unleash divine judgments upon the earth.


    1 Corinthians 15:52: The “last trump” signifies the resurrection and the transformation of believers.

    In essence, the trumpet in Scripture serves as a powerful symbol of God’s presence, His communication with humanity, and His ultimate plan of redemption and victory.

    Psalms 47:1-9 NKJV
    [1] Oh, clap your hands, all you peoples! Shout to God with the voice of triumph! [2] For the Lord Most High is awesome; He is a great King over all the earth. [3] He will subdue the peoples under us, And the nations under our feet. [4] He will choose our inheritance for us, The excellence of Jacob whom He loves. Selah

    [5] God has gone up with a shout, The Lord with the sound of a trumpet.

    [6] Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises! [7] For God is the King of all the earth; Sing praises with understanding. [8] God reigns over the nations; God sits on His holy throne. [9] The princes of the people have gathered together, The people of the God of Abraham. For the shields of the earth belong to God; He is greatly exalted.

    https://bible.com/bible/114/psa.47.1-9.NKJV

    Matthew 24:29-31 NKJV
    [29] “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. [30] Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. [31] And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

    https://bible.com/bible/114/mat.24.29-31.NKJV

    I Thessalonians 4:16 NKJV
    [16] For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.

    https://bible.com/bible/114/1th.4.16.NKJV

    Do you hear the rallying cry of God? The “last trump” symbolizes the second coming of Christ, when He will come with a shout, and the dead in Christ will rise, and those who are alive when He comes shall also be caught up with Him in heaven.

    Are you ready? No man knows the day or the hour, so it is imperative to be prepared, with oil in your lamps (symbolic if the Holy Spirit) and your ears open to the sound of the trumpet (God’s call to battle and to the final hour of victory).

    No amount of money or riches can save you. They can’t earn you a place in God’s kingdom. Jesus Christ has already won the battle for your soul, once and for all times. All that remains is for each of us to step into that eternal inheritance. Those are the ones who hear His voice and will hear the trumpet of God; the last trump right before the return of the Son of God, in power and great glory!

  • Who is the King of your heart?

    2 Samuel ch. 22

    I am reminded of King Saul in the Bible, 2 Samuel chapter 22, and how he became so jealous of David, killed all of the priests so they could no longer bless and anoint David, the God appointed heir to the throne of Israel.

    King Saul became so enraged with jealousy, he even attempted to kill David. All because David continued to grow in favor with both God and man, while the people, the Israelites grew more and more weary of King Saul.

    In all of his efforts to oppose David, he only made it worse for himself, because he failed to honor and serve God. Instead, he became increasingly full of himself, and his ego
    Edged
    God
    Out.

    In the end he failed miserably, and all of his “get David” efforts only proved to lift David up, more and more before God. David’s heart was fully committed to God’s will and authority. Therefore, David succeeded in his service to God and the Israelites,  while Saul failed, continuously and miserably. This narrative serves as a biblical example of successful leadership, and how God Almighty puts kings and presidents and all heads of state and government leadership into place, holds them accountable, and removes them when they fail to serve the people He places in their charge!

    This is also true of all of us as the head of our own internal kingdom, the one that starts in our hearts. Here we must decide, every day, whom we will serve; either ourselves in our own self-centered world, or relinquish the throne of our hearts to the King of kings and Lord of lords.

    When Christ is seated on the throne of our hearts, as He was with David, we will become “servants of the Lord” instead of just serving ourselves and attempting to control our own destiny. In Christ, we have the Holy Spirit, who equips us with the ability to produce fruit in our lives.

    Among this fruit of the Spirit is, self control, which literally means the God given authority and ability the control one’s own life; appetites, emotions and actions. In Christ, we are taking every single thought captive and submitting it to the authority of Christ, the King of our hearts. Instead of being controlled by our hearts, the Holy Spirit develops within each of us, the mind of Christ, and we are enabled to exercise that Spirit led fruit of self-control

    Galatians 5:22-23 NLT
    [22] But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, [23] gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

    https://bible.com/bible/116/gal.5.22-23.NLT

  • The Name above all names

    We do not truly know the Name above all names, for if we did, we would find the kind of faith that moves mountains, heals the sick, raises the dead, etc. We would see the kind of miracles we read about in the book of Acts.

    We don’t need the name of a renowned doctor or specialist, we need the Great Physician, Jehovah Rapha, our God who heals. Medical doctors and personnel may help us when we are sick and suffering from physical pain, but all healing is from God.

    Many may say, “I know the name of Jesus.” But do we truly put our faith and trust in Him?

    Here in the book of Acts, which is the birth of the Church, the body of Christ, the apostles are testifying of the name above all names, Jesus Christ. In his name there is repentance, which brings about healing, forgiveness of sin, redemption, salvation, restoration, etc. in and only in His Name! When we put our complete faith and trust in Him, we will see His full work of salvation within our hearts and lives.

    As they are speaking the name of Jesus and testifying of his mighty works, they are running up against persecution; not from the people they are teaching and ministering to, but from the religious establishment; the leaders in their community; the scribes and Pharisees, the Sanhedrin, the chief priests, etc.

    Is it any different or less confrontational today?

    In various parts of the world we see plenty of persecution, even in the United States, where we have “separation of Church and State.”

    Religion and government cannot coexist without ruffling religious and/or certain governmental factions. Can we really separate God from our government?

    God is not mocked, for in due time, we will reap what we sow. When we, as a society, push God out, WATCH OUT!

    We’re seeing this godless, secular scenario play out every day.

    Acts 4:12 NKJV
    [12] Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

    https://bible.com/bible/114/act.4.12.NKJV

    Acts 3:16 NKJV
    [16] And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.

    https://bible.com/bible/114/act.3.16.NKJV

    Isaiah 42:6-8 NLT
    [6] “I, the Lord, have called you to demonstrate my righteousness. I will take you by the hand and guard you, and I will give you to my people, Israel, as a symbol of my covenant with them. And you will be a light to guide the nations. [7] You will open the eyes of the blind. You will free the captives from prison, releasing those who sit in dark dungeons. [8] “I am the Lord; that is my name! I will not give my glory to anyone else, nor share my praise with carved idols.

    https://bible.com/bible/116/isa.42.6-8.NLT

    I Timothy 2:5-6 NKJV
    [5] For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, [6] who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time,

    https://bible.com/bible/114/1ti.2.5-6.NKJV

    John 14:6 NKJV
    [6] Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

    https://bible.com/bible/114/jhn.14.6.NKJV

  • God is our refuge and strength

    Living As Light: Saturday 7/5/2025

    Take refuge in the Lord daily and the worries of this life will not cling to you.

    Everything that the world seeks after will not consume your thoughts or rob you of your peace and joy when you put your faith in trust in God Almighty through Jesus Christ.

    His Spirit will lead you through each day.

    You won’t be worrying about tomorrow because God will keep you focused on today, nor will you be held back by dwelling on the past.

    With eyes to see, ears to hear, and a heart that is prepared by the Lord daily, to receive the things of God, your plans and intentions will succeed. He will establish all that you set out to do.

    He will be your protection and your shield from the attacks of the enemy who seels to keep your heart and mind occupied with anxiety, fear, guilt and everything the robs, kills, and destroys the peace of God that surpasses all understanding and guards your heart and mind, in Christ Jesus.

    Psalm 5:1-3 ESV
    [1] Give ear to my words, O Lord; consider my groaning. [2] Give attention to the sound of my cry, my King and my God, for to you do I pray. [3] O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch.

    https://bible.com/bible/59/psa.5.1-3.ESV

    Psalms 5:11-12 NLT
    [11] But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them sing joyful praises forever. Spread your protection over them, that all who love your name may be filled with joy. [12] For you bless the godly, O Lord; you surround them with your shield of love.

    https://bible.com/bible/116/psa.5.11-12.NLT

    Matthew 6:34 NKJV
    [34] Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

    https://bible.com/bible/114/mat.6.34.NKJV

  • We as Peacemakers

    Wele’re called to be peacemakers.


    Matthew 5:9 NKJV
    [9] Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God.

    https://bible.com/bible/114/mat.5.9.NKJV


    We, the sons and daughters of God, filled with the Spirit, spread, among many things, His peace, which surpasses all understanding. That peace comes as the fruit of the Spirit at work in our lives, and we pass it on as we minister to those whose paths we cross on a daily basis. It starts with living the golden rule, by loving your neighbor as yourself.

    Jesus gives His peace to those who repent and believe, so that we can pass it on.

    The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness , goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22&23)

  • One commandment with two facets or sides.

    And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”
    Matthew 22:35‭-‬40 ESV
    https://bible.com/bible/59/mat.22.35-40.ESV

    Thinking about the greatest commandment, I once heard Billy Graham state that it’s really one commandment with two sides or facets, much like a coin with two sides, heads and tails. You can’t have one side without the other, otherwise the coin is worthless

    In the same manner, one can’t claim to love God, while not loving, even hating, his brother/neighbor (1 John 3:10-15)

    So, the Great commandment is one commandment; to love. Love God with all of your heart, mind, soul and strength, and your neighbor (brother) as yourself.

    You can’t truly love God, without loving your neighbor as yourself and nor can you truly love your neighbor as independent of God; not to the depth that God commands and demonstrates in Christ.