Friends

[Jim Spencer]

 

The Greatest Commandment is Love, because the fundamental purpose of God's creation is the expression of His love. The question was asked of me several times by different church members----"Why do you even come to this church?" And I explained that I have been coming to this church to learn how to love--for my own salvation.But, because I love the bretheran, my heart is all about seeing how I can be of assistance to others and how I could help---whether it be to offer dietary knowledge, fill a need, fill a space, or just listen to someone in need.  I decided that I would try to overcome myself no matter what headwinds I was encountering. I determined that I did not want to be critical, judgmental, patronizing, or have a demeaning attitude---no matter how much suspicion, religious intolerance, non-acceptance, refusal to see my true heart--was received. Now, I began to really understand Jesus admonishment about RELIGIOUS INTOLERANCE.

And believe me, that was tough for someone such as myself that has served different religions in many different parts of the world for many years. You see, it is in actually being with the great diversity of God's children that we hearn to love them. That's why I feel a kinship to Laotian or Thai Buddists, Indian Hindus, Saudi Muslims, British Church of Englanders, Catholics, and Alaskan natives---even though Jesus Christ is the doorway to Heaven and His Gospel is my life mission.

 

In the process of discovery at your church, I reinforced to myself,  the importance of having a serving heart. So, I worked on it---even in the face of being shunned, ignored, receiving anger, asking why I came to your church, and being treated by some as a leper or a misfit. As a highly disciplined missionary with the singular mission of learning to love men----------and a person with a long pedigree (relative for an earth dweller) in the search for universal truth---despite the fact that I  never felt accepted, given credibility, or respected for my seniority in faith (by the elders)-----------I found peace, love, and the presence of God in your church. My vision today, (and I can still see it) of a spirit world church being imposed over your little church showed me how connected we are to each other. I believe that  your loved ones who have passed on were assembled in that great hall. "in my Father's house are many mansions".

 

You all know that I am a teacher of The Urantia Book, which is a new revelation that has been given to us with the permission and fostering of our beloved Jesus of Nazareth, the Creator Son--along with His counterpart--who we know as the Holy Spirit. She is known by others as the Creative Mother Spirit of the Universe. Just as we are now using a textbook for Maximum Manhood---I too use many books. Some of them are based soley on the Bible and some are not. Truth is truth no matter where it comes from. Songbirds are representations of the Father's infinite love. Each one sings a true and beautiful song----and not one uses a songbook. I love the Bible. I use it all the time. But God is far to big to fit into any one book. It was true of the Torah, when Jesus came. And, it is true today because God has not stopped talking to us. God continues to reveal more and more truth, just the way that we must have new wineskins (textbooks), as we pass from grade school to high school, and then the college of Love, Faith, and Service.

 

We are living in what you call "The Last Days". No one that reads The Book of Revelation knows exactly what the symbols mean and what will exactly happen.  But what is sure---is that God is still speaking to us. "New wine must be put into new wineskins" means that we must no longer be fearful of learning more. In this day, Jesus is actively working to lift up our world into a greater world community, expanding the brotherhood of the believers in Christ. The Kingdom of Heaven will come into our midst, starting with ourselves. As we become living representtions of the living Christ---our light will so shine as to eliminate the darkness in others. When we walk in His living light of truth-----there is no fear of exploration for His children. We must go beyond that old fear of being overtaken by evil. Because, don't you realize that Christ conquered evil and since His resurrection; evil can only enter us through our own choices? No matter who you are, when you walk in His light, evil cannot lead you astray. God wants you to think, to explore, and to validate everything. Jesus was not orthodox and neither is his Universe. Jesus is the King of diversity------just look at all of the different life forms and even different peoples on earth. Theology creates disunity while Love creates unity. One comes from the head and the other from the heart.

 

We are all here on the Earth Plane in physical bodies for a brief moment in time. This is The Earth School of Love and Faith. That is why we are here right now. God, who is omniscient, sits on the circle of eternity--past, present, and future. He knew you before you were born. He has prepared a place for you which is far greater than your present abode. So, my friends, learn your lessons well. Jesus always said two things----"peace be upon you" and "fear not".  

 

Here are some Bible passages which support Love:

 

"Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind."

"He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love."
"Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."

"We love him, because he first loved us."
" If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us."
"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love."
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith."
"And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity."
"Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal."
 "Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned."
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
"And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins."
"Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God."
"And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."
"Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity."
"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."
"And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also."
"This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you."
"And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you."
"My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth."
"But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;"
"As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love."
"Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another."
"And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold [water] only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward."
"For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward."
"He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward."
"For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."
"Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law."

"Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another."
"By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments."
"He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now."

Christ  may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love."

"Therefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God."
"These things I command you, that ye love one another."
"For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another."
"But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him."
"A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another."
"Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life."
"For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous."
"Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God."
"And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment."
"But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?"
"Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren."
 "For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister."
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

 "know that we
have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death."
"Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him."
"And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works."