That the Lord Blesses and has His way with you dear brother Grape is
surely our reward and blessing too!
Judy I can only reply to you as one sister to another.
You ask, "why did Jesus say to love one another...."
The first thing that happens to me as I consider your question is to ask myself WHO was our Lord speaking to when He commanded this? My thoughts take me to knowing that it was not addressed to the world to love US, that our Lord was teaching us. We know as He says, we are persecuted, hated and reviled of the world as is fitting for our God to purge, strengthen and purify His Children He is preparing for His Kingdom. We are purged when hated, we are blessed as well as we are given to walk in the very foot path of our Lord who left His example to us.
Luk 16:13 No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.Luk 6:22 Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake.So to who was Jesus speaking when He said “love one another”
Joh 15:17 These things I command YOU, ( YOU, the Disciples, Apostles, Brethren of Christ )
that ye love one another.Okay so we see who the one is but who is the other? Jesus says WE are to love one another. Who is that other? Is it the world? NO! Is it the rebellious, defiant, God hating, Christ despising children of wrath? NO. The other, is the other Disciple, Apostle, Brother, Sister, Daughter and Son of our God. We are not to bow to mammon or the world, the worldy or those God has caused to experience the darkness and blindness of error, deception and delusion.
So what kind of love is the “love” Christ our Saviour has commanded we are to love each other?
It is Agape love. This is the Love of God. God IS Love.
Rom 5:5 and that this hope never disappoints, because God's love for us floods our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
1Th 4:9 But on the subject of love for the brotherhood it is unnecessary for me to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another;
2Th 1:3 Unceasing thanks are due from us to God on your behalf, brethren. They are appropriate because your faith is growing greatly, and the love of every one of you for all the others goes on increasing.
2Ti 1:7 For the Spirit which God has given us is not a spirit of cowardice, but one of power and of love and of sound judgement.Has the world been given this Spirit yet? NO. The world does’t judge according to the Spirit of God but of things earthly and worldly of prize only to the eyes of lust and flesh and pride of life.
It is not for us to mix the old with the new or the earthy realm of carnality with the heavenly Kingdom of our God.
This is why our Lord tells us to Love as God loves, and as God loves, we can only do if God is causing us to experience and walk in that Love that is His Spirit in us, leading us to grow in faith, in insight of Wisdom and fruits of the Spirit of the Son of God ~ Jesus Christ Himself.
It really is so important to discern between the Love of God and the Love of Christ. Here Agape and Phileo Love are important to understand. The world doesn’t see, discern or know the difference.
Highly Recommended reading I feel the Lord is urging ME to re-study is
Love :
http://forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/topic,3719.0.html. Join me to re-study this Judy!
You ask “ Do we go against God by praying for peace?”
If our minds hearts and feelings are seeking the Kingdom of God then:
1Jn 3:10 By this we can distinguish God's children and the Devil's children: no one who fails to act righteously is a child of God, nor he who does not love his brother man.
1Jn 3:17 But if any one has this world's wealth and sees that his brother man is in need, and yet hardens his heart against him--how can such a one continue to love God?
Who is John talking about? Who is that brother man in need? The Devil’s children don’t need Christ. They HATE Him. They revile, spit and abuse Him as pigs and swine will tear at pearls of the Kingdom of God. No, this is not who John is talking about. He is talking about that brother of yours and mine who NEEDING God, who seeking and crying out to GOD, is in need. Against such we are not to become hardened, aloof, pride filled and to high and mighty to lend a hand, encouragement, hope and blessing as God draws out of Babylon those He is electing for His Kingdom. We are not to do as the Pharisees do buy shutting out those who are entering the Kingdom.
1Jn 4:7 Dear friends, let us love one another; for love has its origin in God, and every one who loves has become a child of God and is beginning to know God.That brother are those BEGINNING to KNOW God! Not those refusing and looking for agreement and are those…
Rom 1:32 In short, though knowing full well the sentence which God pronounces against actions such as theirs, as things which deserve death, they not only practice them, but even encourage and applaud others who do them.We are to discern who’s who and are only given to discern by the gift of that Holy Spirit of Christ that leads, through His Goodness, those He is calling to Repentance into His Kingdom!
You ask how one is to know what to pray for?
That is richly answered in the edifying and most enlightening and VITAL message of hope AND TRUTH, found at
Praying by God's Rules Home page.
Blessings to you sister
Arc