Loving God and Every Man
Loving God and others brings peace and blessedness in your heart and a sense of paradise on earth.
Mary Wilder Tileston, preaching on the teachings of Father John, emphasizes the importance of treating others with love and kindness as we would want for ourselves. By following God's commandments and loving Him wholeheartedly while also showing love and forgiveness to others, we can experience true peace and blessedness. Tileston encourages living a life that reflects God's will, focusing on gratitude for His endless mercies and the practice of treating others with the same respect and care we desire for ourselves, leading to a sense of paradise on earth even before reaching heaven.
Text
Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them; for this is the Law and the Prophets.
MATTHEW 7:12
TAKE the trouble to spend only one single day according to God's commandments, and you will see yourself, you will feel by your own heart, how good it is to fulfil God's will (and God's will in relation to us is our life, our eternal blessedness). Love God with all your heart; value with all your strength His love and His benefits to you, enumerate His mercies, which are endlessly great and manifold. Furthermore, love every man as yourself,--that is, do not wish him anything that you would not wish for yourself; do not let your memory keep in it any evil caused to you by others, even as you would wish that the evil done by yourself should be forgotten by others; do unto them as you would do unto yourself, or even do not do unto them as you would not do unto yourself; and then you will see what you will obtain in your heart,--what peace, what blessedness! You will be in paradise before reaching it,--that is, before the paradise in heaven, you will be in the paradise on earth.
FATHER JOHN
Sermon Outline
- Love God with all your heart
- Love every man as yourself
- The result of loving God and others
- Peace and blessedness in your heart
- Paradise on earth
Key Quotes
“Love God with all your heart; value with all your strength His love and His benefits to you, enumerate His mercies, which are endlessly great and manifold.” — Mary Wilder Tileston
“You will be in paradise before reaching it,--that is, before the paradise in heaven, you will be in the paradise on earth.” — Mary Wilder Tileston
Application Points
- Spend a day fulfilling God's commandments to experience the joy of obedience.
- Value God's love and benefits in your life, and enumerate His mercies.
- Treat others with kindness and respect, just as you would want to be treated.