One last thing I just thought I should add is that when Jesus became the ULTIMATE SACRIFICE on our behalf, we ceased to be subject to the LAWS which we all know leads to SIN and DEATH (We are still subject to the Authorities of the Land though). Just like in the days of the Pharacees and Saducees (whom Jesus heavily criticized and even called them names in several instances
. YOU BROOD OF VIPERS 
) some people still try to use the laws of Moses or old Testament laws to manipulate people to do their bidding or their ways of thinking. For example you hear parents tell their children that God said children should honor their parents but they seem to forget that just after that verse is a verse that states that parents should not provoke their children to anger. Or you hear husbands tell their wife that God has instructed the wives to be SUBMISSIVE to their husbands with the bid of trying to CONTROL their wives forgetting that the verse before states that husband should love their wives as Christ loved the church; so much that He even gave up his life for the church or that we are meant to be SUBMISSIVE one to the other. Scary right? but if we look deep within, we will find we have been doing this) and even for most Christians, we find ourselves trying to twist God's word to our benefit or to justify any action we want to make even when it is wrong (I was also very guilty of this but now I know better). Don't forget that the devil knows God's word even more than most of and also does the same thing of trying to twist God's word to confuse us (eg the story of the temptation of Eve and The temptations of Jesus). The only commandment that Jesus instructed us to obey is the COMMANDMENT TO LOVE. This is the underlying foundation behind every other commandment (If you love God and you are assured in your heart that God loves you in return, you wouldn't want to steal or kill or do anything that is contrary to God's will for your life or that will come between you and your heavenly father). GOD IS LOVE AND LOVE IS GOD. Since we are made in God's image and after his likeness WE ARE LOVE BEINGS. CHRISTIANITY is a way of life and not a religion or a set of RULES AND REGULATIONS (DOS AND DON'T) and the only way we can lead people to Christ is if and only if ONLY IF our lifestyle is a replica of the Life of THE CHRIST (who we remember is the epitome of LOVE). We have been commanded not just to LOVE OUR NEIGHBORS and CHURCH FOLKS but to ALSO LOVE OUR ENEMIES (Romans 12:9-21). Please meditate on every scripture Jesus spoke about Love and you will have a better understanding of what I am talking about. But let me leave these two scriptures with you.
Matthew 22:34-40 (The Message)
The Most Important Command
34-36When the Pharisees heard how he had bested the Sadducees, they gathered their forces for an assault. One of their religion scholars spoke for them, posing a question they hoped would show him up: "Teacher, which command in God's Law is the most important?"
37-40Jesus said, "'Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.' This is the most important, the first on any list. But there is a second to set alongside it: 'Love others as well as you love yourself.' (Eskor: FOOD FOR THOUGHT - if you don't love yourself, how can you love others?). These two commands are pegs; everything in God's Law and the Prophets hangs from them."
Matthew 18:1-6 (Amplified Bible)
1AT THAT time the disciples came up and asked Jesus, Who then is [really] the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
2And He called a little child to Himself and put him in the midst of them,
3And said, Truly I say to you, unless you repent (change, turn about) and become like little children [trusting, lowly, loving, forgiving], you can never enter the kingdom of heaven [at all].
4Whoever will humble himself therefore and become like this little child [trusting, lowly, loving, forgiving] is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
5And whoever receives and accepts and welcomes one little child like this for My sake and in My name receives and accepts and welcomes Me.
6But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in and [a]acknowledge and cleave to Me to stumble and sin [that is, who entices him or hinders him in right conduct or thought], it would be better ([b]more expedient and profitable or advantageous) for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be sunk in the depth of the sea.
(PLEASE READ THE WHOLE OF MATTHEW 18 WHEN YOU HAVE THE CHANCE)
Good Stuff right? It is well and WE CAN ONLY GET BETTER!!! I will always emphasize that LIFE is a Journey and as long as we are on this journey, it will continue to be a LEARNING EXPERIENCE for us all.
LOVE YOU ALL AND KEEP THE FIRE OF LOVE BURNING!!! Remember, No one is left behind and it is not how we start that matters but how we finish. the whole idea is about FINISHING STRONG!!!
Love Always,
Eskor
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