Faith, Love, Commandments And Works

By: Elias Bejjani*

John 15/10: " If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love".

Do not ever be ashamed or feel guilty for having a good, loving, caring and forgiving heart. There is nothing wrong when we adopt an on going extended hand attitude with a positive approach in face of setbacks, betrayals, hardships, disappointments, enmities and all sorts of difficulties. It is extremely righteous for each one of us to genuinely turn off any page that has been dark, painful and non functional to go on with life journey looking for what is like ourselves and not like any body else.

Righteous virtues are not the out come of weakness but of strength, not of naivety, but of nobility, not of cowardice, but of great courage. Only people with strong faith can cherish and hold to such life qualities and practice what they preach.

We all ought to continuously remember that flowers are not ashamed from the intensity of their fragrant and beauty, nor the sun is shy of its light. The sun shines on all people, bad and good, poor and rich, sick and healthy. We have to be so generous with every body else and non judgmental like the water spring that provides water to who ever comes to drink without asking questions. It abundantly gives to who ever is thirsty

Our Life is always what we want it to be. When we pursue misery, miserable it will become. When we look for happiness, happiness shall prevail. Faith in God is a cornerstone in our lives provided we complete it with works.

With faith we get hope and respect for life itself. We know who we are, who created us and why on His image. We come to fully recognize where we are, what is right and what is wrong and to understand that all people, no matter what the color of their skin is are our bothers and sisters and that Almighty God is our Loving Father.

Faith opens both minds and hearts on the Judgment Day when either we go back to our God's mansions or be thrown in Hell.

Faith equips us with a clear criteria for what is right and wrong, righteous and evil, acceptable and unacceptable.
Faith helps us to enjoy self respect, dignity and actual internal peace.
Faith makes us believe in equality and in practicing it to its full in our lives.
Faith teaches us to accept ourselves and others for who we are.
Faith makes us recognize that each person is a unique entity.
Faith makes us understand without any doubts that by the end, no matter what, the devil and the evil people will never be victorious. Why? because God, Our Father does not allow that to happen.

Faithful people know for sure that evil may prevail for some time, but the last word is for Almighty God and for every thing that is Godly.
Faithful people know for sure that injustice may prevail for some time, but the last word is always for God's Justice.
Faithful people know for sure that hatred may win for some time, but the last word is for love

Why by the end evil never wins and is always defeated and downtrodden?
Simply because the Lord is stronger than all evil, all injustice, all grudges and all sorts of hatred, and most importantly because He is the God of peace, forgiveness, Justice and love.

God Himself is love, Yes, God is love and the Bible tells us clearly that the act of loving is the cornerstone of all commandments.
Matthew 22/37-40: "Jesus said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets."

Saint Peter's description of love is so powerful: "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. (1 Corinthians 13/4-8)

Can any one love and hate at the same time? No not the righteous ones who know that hatred and love can not live together. Only hypocrites can do that. And yes they might succeed in fooling and tricking others for a while, but never they can fool or trick Almighty God.

In conclusion: Love Does Not Seek its own and does not rejoice in unrighteousness. Love rejoices with the truth. "Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ" (Romans 10/17)., But at the same time "Faith Without Works Is Dead" as Saint James ( 2/14-20) explains: What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead".

Let us pray for the God of Love to fill our hearts and minds with the gifts of love, modesty, forgiveness and not to subject us to the final test.

Elias Bejjani*
Canadian-Lebanese Human Rights activist, journalist and political commentator
Email phoenicia@hotmail.com
Web sites http://www.10452lccc.com & http://www.clhrf.com
Elias Bejjani's Face Book site http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=602442765#!/