A lawyer once asked Jesus a question, “‘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 foremost commandment. The second is
like it, you shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two
commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.’” (Mt 22:36-40)
Jesus fulfilled these two commandments perfectly at the cross. Jesus said to His disciples, “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” (Jn 14:15) How can we sinful men keep His commandments? Evangelism, evangelism is were both upward love (love of God) and lateral love (love of neighbor) meet at the heart. Upward love expressed in evangelism is worshiping God through faith in Jesus Christ for what He alone has done. Lateral love expressed in evangelism is your concern for the eternal souls of your neighbor. Now draw a mental picture of upward love and lateral love. Do you see the cross of Jesus Christ?
In Christ alone,
Mike Peek
