From: Paul Gage
LIVING IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD FEBRUARY 2, 2023
Happy February to all the lovely Saints who are scattered all around the earth,
February is generally known as the “love” month since Valentines Day is February 14. I won’t go into any details about February or Valentines Day except to say that the word, February, comes from a Latin root meaning purification. To be “pure in heart,” we are commanded to love as God loves each of His creation.
As we live in the Kingdom of God, we are preparing for the return of Jesus Christ, in His Glory. In order to be ready for that great event, we must love one another, else how can we expect to have part in Zion. We all know that our time on earth is a time of probation. That is a time to prove to God that we are worthy to be in His Kingdom. Do we show God’s love in our interactions with others? If not, can we expect to be in Zion with Jesus who loved us so much that He died for us?
If someone was to interview any number of people regarding our display of God’s love, where would you rank, on a scale of 0-10 with ten being the best score? I first heard the following song at the Great Lakes Reunion in 2021. It was sung by Gary Holmes from Port Huron, Michigan.
I think it has a strong message for those who want to be in God’s true Kingdom, but we must live it now. It would seem that the main reason we, nor Saints before us, other than Enoch, have not established or helped bring forth Zion is that we do not have God’s love for all people. We each are told to examine ourselves. Take some time to examine yourself, in light of loving as God loves. Start with yourself, then your family, the church, workplace, etc.
This Sunday, February 5, 2023 is another Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. We are admonished to not take the Sacrament unworthily. Can we take it worthily if we don’t demonstrate God’s love?
If You Don’t Love Your Neighbor, then You Don’t Love God.
(You can pull this up on the net)
There are many people, who will say they're Christians
And they live like Christians on the Sabbath day
But come Monday morning, till the coming Sunday
They will fight their neighbor all along the way
Chorus: Oh you don't love God
If you don't love your neighbor
If you gossip about him,
if you never have mercy
If he gets into trouble,
and you don't try to help him
Then you don't love your neighbor
And you don't love God
In the Holy Bible, in the book of Matthew
Read the 18th chapter in the 21st verse
Jesus plainly tells us that we must have mercy.
There's a special warning in the 35th verse (34 in the Inspired Version)
There's a God Almighty, and you've got to love him
If you want salvation and a home on high
If you say you love him while you hate your neighbor
Then you don't have religion, you just told a lie. (Repeat the chorus)
There are also several wonderful hymns in “Hymns of the Restoration” 2007 Edition. Hymn 335, “What a Strong and Happy People” written by Elbert A. Smith. As a Patriarch, he certainly had insight as to what was keeping Zion in the distance. Verse four says, “When no two of all our number, Lord, shall longer be at strife, When we walk in love and mercy close to Thee…..”
Hymn 508, “Loving Each Other” Verse one begins, “This is the motto we all would obey, We will all love one another…” This was written by D. E. Lorenz who was a Presbyterian minister in New York. I guess they had problems also. Nevertheless, Zion, the Beautiful Beacons Us On.
We also have the commandment to share the Gospel with others. Brother Vim Horn taught a class at the Priesthood and Men’s Retreat on January 28, 2023. His theme was “Sharing God’s Truth in a Post-Modern World,” mentioning many of the situations in the world today where so many are, as we might say, “off the wall.” How can we witness to those in the world where now so many do not even believe in God and that whatever they might do is ok? This is available on the Oak Grove website.
Elder John Baker JR. preached a strong sermon, at Waldo Avenue RB, on Sunday, January 29, 2023, regarding some of the same issues. For example, were you aware, according to some statistics that a higher percentage of people in Russia believe in God than many countries in Europe? It gives us something to think about as we “live in the Kingdom of God.” This is available on the Waldo website.
God Bless
Paul Gage
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