Loving, the Key to Happiness and Blessings.

By Robert Adams

Loving, The Key to Happiness and Blessings is really three books in one. Each one can individually bring happiness and blessings into the life of the reader.

The first book is chapter one and two. Chapter one tells us who God says we should love if we are one of his children. Because of what God and Jesus did in loving us, chapter two teaches what the Bible says are the prerequisites and requirements for becoming one of God‘s children and having the Holy Spirit to help us do what is in chapter one. If we haven’t met all those prerequisites and requirements already, we can believe and act on them and become one of God’s children for the greatest happiness and blessing of our life time.

The second book, chapters three through seven, focuses on how we can obtain happiness and blessings by following what the Bible teaches us on how we can love God, our neighbors, our brothers and sisters in Christ, and everyone including—yes, even our enemies.

The third book, chapter eight, tells how we obtain happiness and blessings as we equip ourselves for loving living through Bible study and prayer. It teaches us the importance of each one separately and how to tie the two together with a daily quiet time with God.

These three books combine to help the reader obtain the greatest happiness and blessings.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Dec 3, 2013
• ISBN: 9781490805610

Robert Adams

Colonel Robert Adams, MD is a US Naval Academy graduate who served thirty-six years in the Navy and Army as a Navy SEAL, the DELTA Force Command Surgeon, and an Army family medicine physician (with obstetrics). Wake Forest Medical School, then an Army residency at Madigan Army Medical center in Tacoma, Washington was followed by service with the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, NC. After the military he built a thriving private practice in North Carolina where he won numerous awards for clinical excellence and practiced for 13 more years, retiring in 2020. Other books by Dr. Adams - Six Days of Impossible Navy SEAL Hell Week - a Doctor Looks Back

Book preview

Copyright © 2013 Robert Adams.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

Scripture quotations taken from the New American Standard Bible® (NASB),

Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973,

1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation

Used by permission. www.Lockman.org

WestBow Press

A Division of Thomas Nelson & Zondervan

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.westbowpress.com

844-714-3454

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

ISBN: 978-1-4908-0560-3 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4908-0559-7 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4908-0561-0 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2013914949

WestBow Press rev. date:  03/05/2021

DEDICATION

Dedicated to the world’s best and most precious wife, Beth.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction

Chapter 1: Commandments for Christian Living

Chapter 2: Whose Children Are We? God’s or the Devil’s?

Chapter 3: Loving God

Chapter 4: Loving Our Neighbor

Chapter 5: Loving Our Brothers and Sisters in Christ

Chapter 6: Loving Our Enemies

Chapter 7: Loving Everyone

Chapter 8: The Importance of a Quiet Time for Loving Living

INTRODUCTION

Jesus said the two most important commandments are one, Love God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength. and two, Love your neighbor as yourself. He went on to say that in those two commandments, all of the law and the prophets are included. I know that just as we can never fulfill the law by trying to obey it, we will fail in trying to fulfill the law through loving. However, loving seemed to be a different, easier, and interesting way to think about obeying God and living the Christian life.

In addition, obeying the law leads to blessings. Scripture says:

. . . BLESSED IS HE WHO KEEPS THE LAW. –(PROVERBS 29:18)(ESV)

And, blessings lead to happiness. Plus, when we please the Lord by obeying His commands on loving others, it can lead to happiness and peace by the elimination of enmity between us and others, even our enemies.

WHEN A MAN’S WAYS ARE PLEASING TO THE LORD, HE MAKES EVEN HIS ENEMIES TO BE AT PEACE WITH HIM. -(PROVERBS 16:7)(NIV)

This peace we have through loving others and eliminating sinful emotions like hate, anger, bitterness, and unforgiveness, gives us additional happiness. Also, as we love others as we are commanded, our heartfelt love toward God and others grows causing more happiness. Thus the title:

LOVING, THE KEY TO HAPPINESS AND BLESSINGS.

This book is really three separate books about how we can obtain happiness and blessings in our lives.

The first book is contained in chapter one and two. Chapter one tells us who we are commanded to love if we are obedient Christians. Because this book is written mainly for true Christians – children of God, chapter two shows us how to examine ourselves to see if we have met all of the prerequisites and requirements for becoming children of God. Jesus taught in three of his parables that there are people that look like children of God but are children of the devil. The Bible teaches that all people are one or the other. Chapter two shows how we can examine ourselves to see if we really are a child of God and tells how to become one if we find out we not one according to Scripture. As children of God, we will have the Holy Spirit in us to help us do what is in chapter one. There is no greater happiness and blessing in this life than to receive what God’s love has provided and become a child of God or know for sure that you are one.

The second book is about how we will obtain happiness and blessings by following what the Bible teaches us specifically about how to love God, our neighbors, our brothers and sisters in Christ, and even our enemies. The second book is found in chapters three through seven.

The third book tells how we equip ourselves for loving living through Bible study and prayer, and how to tie the two together with a daily quiet time with God. The third book is fully contained in chapter eight.

I have included Bible book, chapter, and verse for all of the important points to show they are what the Bible says.

The following shows all Bible versions that I have used and how they are scripted after chapter and verse:

(KJV) Chapter and verse are from the King James Version of the Bible.

(NKJV) Chapter and verse are from the New King James Version of the Bible.

(NASB) Chapter and verse are from the New American Standard Bible.

(ESV) Chapter and verse are from the English Standard Version of the Bible.

Blank After Chapter and Verse—Chapter and verse are from the New International Version of the Bible.

Where portions of Scripture have not been included because they are not relevant to the point being made, it is shown by three periods with a space between them as follows: . . .

Where something in the verse needs explanation to show what is meant, or about whom it is talking in the context of previous verses, it is explained between [ ] marks.

The following is an example of how spacing, [ ] marks, and Bible version appear.

". . . HE [AN ANGEL] SAID TO ME, ‘YOU MUST NOT DO THAT [THE APOSTLE JOHN WAS TRYING TO WORSHIP THE ANGEL]! I AM A FELLOW SERVANT . . . WORSHIP GOD!’’’ (REVELATION 22:9) (ESV)

Ready for happiness and blessings? O.K., let’s go.

CHAPTER 1

Commandments for Christian Living

Vince Lombardi, the former great, Hall-of-Fame, football coach of the Green Bay Packers, used to tell his players that the three priorities in their lives should be: God, their families and the Green Bay Packers. One of his players, Ron Kramer, wrote a book about football and he said, That was what Vince did believe, but not in that order.

You may have heard that story before in a sermon, as many preachers use it to teach that the three priorities in our lives should be: One, God; Two, our family; and Three, everything else. Many Christians are trying to live by that. It surely is a commendable life style and while most of the world has the order reversed, most Christians would admit that most of the time, they do not have the order right either.

Jesus does agree that God is first. When Jesus was asked what the most important commandment was, He said:

THE MOST IMPORTANT ONE, JESUS ANSWERED, IS THIS: ‘HEAR O ISRAEL, THE LORD OUR GOD, THE LORD IS ONE. LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH.’—(MARK 12:29,30)

Then, unlike Vince Lombardi and some sermons, Jesus did not go on to say that the second most important thing is our family. In fact, after giving what He said is the most important commandment, He said without hesitating:

AND THE SECOND IS LIKE IT. LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.—(MATTHEW 22:39)

Are these two commandments by Jesus saying He is doing away with the Ten Commandments? On the contrary, Jesus immediately said:

ON THESE TWO REQUIREMENTS HANG ALL THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS. –( MATTHEW 22:30)

Jesus said that if we obeyed the commandments to love God and our neighbors, we would not only be obeying the Ten Commandments – the Law, but also the teachings of the prophets.

I know that just as we fail at trying to be obedient to the Law, we will fail at being obedient to the loving commandments. However, loving seems to be a new and exciting way to look at how we can live the Christian life.

Let’s look at the first four commandments to see if we can understand why we would have no problem obeying them if we loved God like Jesus said.

1. YOU SHALL HAVE NO OTHER GODS BEFORE ME.—(EXODUS 20:3)

If we loved God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength, He would be the only person to occupy our mind, There would be no thought or desire to put any other gods before our loving Father, the sovereign God of the universe.

2. YOU SHALL NOT MAKE FOR YOURSELF AN IDOL IN THE FORM OF ANYTHING IN HEAVEN ABOVE, THE EARTH BENEATH OR IN THE WATERS BELOW.—(EXODUS 20:4)

Like number one, we would be in such devotion to God who satisfies all our needs emotionally, physically, financially, and spiritually that anything else would have no attraction and we would have no need to worship something or someone to the point that it becomes an idol to us.

3. YOU SHALL NOT MISUSE THE NAME OF THE LORD YOUR GOD.—(EXODUS 20:7)

We wouldn’t even consider using His name as a swearword. Have you ever heard of a person deciding in their ranting, raving, and rage that a loved one’s name will be considered profane and used in their angry swearing?

4. REMEMBER THE SABBATH DAY BY KEEPING IT HOLY.—(EXODUS 20:8)

Apparently, the early church led by the apostles and disciples of Jesus had the peace of God to change the holy day of rest and worship to Sunday, the day Christ was resurrected. We have observed that day now for more than two thousand years, and we call it the Lord’s day. If you disagree or do not have peace of mind about it and would like to still celebrate Saturday as your holy day, some evangelical churches now have Saturday services.

Next, if we obeyed what Jesus said was the second most important commandment, Love your neighbor as yourself, we would obey the remainder of the ten commandments. Let’s look at the remaining six and see why that is true.

We have to look at those six with the thought in mind that we are to love them as ourselves. We love ourselves by trying to see that all our needs are met. With that in mind, let’s look briefly at commandments five through ten even though it is obvious that true love would cause us to obey them.

5. HONOR YOUR FATHER AND YOUR MOTHER, . . .

—(EXODUS 20:12)

If we truly loved our neighbor, we surely would honor those who had spent eighteen or more years loving and providing for us the way we would like to be treated as parents.

6. YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT MURDER.—(EXODUS 20:13)

A heart that truly loved their neighbor would not consider even being mean to someone.

7. YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY.—(EXODUS 20:14)

A heart that truly loved their neighbor would not do anything to hurt a person even closer – a spouse.

8. YOU SHALL NOT STEAL.—(EXODUS 20:15)

If we loved our neighbor as we love ourselves, we would be giving to them, not stealing from them.

9. YOU SHALL NOT GIVE FALSE TESTIMONY AGAINST YOUR NEIGHBOR.—(EXODUS 20:16)

If we loved our neighbor, we would not do anything to hurt them or their reputation any more than we would like someone to give false witness against us.

10. YOU SHALL NOT COVET YOUR NEIGHBOR’S HOUSE. YOU SHALL NOT COVET YOUR NEIGHBOR’S WIFE, OR HIS MANSERVANT OR MAIDSERVANT, HIS OX OR DONKEY, OR ANYTHING THAT BELONGS TO YOUR NEIGHBOR.—(EXODUS 20:17)

If we loved our neighbor, we would be happy for them for what they have and not dwell on wishing we had what they have.

Sadly, we know that the fact that we have transgressed some of these commandments means we do not love with a love like Jesus is talking about.

Yet, what would we all say if asked, Do you love God? We would all answer without hesitating, Yes, of course I do! We know that this is the right answer.

However, what if we ask, Do you love God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength? If truthful, most of us, if not all, would have to say, I’m not sure I even understand completely what that means, but I’m sure I do not love God like that.

So, as we read what Jesus said about how much we should love God, we immediately dismiss it with the thought, Oh, that would be nice but it would be impossible. Maybe it will be that way when we get to heaven. I guess we could work on it now as a goal.

We immediately think that it is the emotional love that we have for our spouse or children or parents or a relative. It is a love that is reserved for just a few people that are very close to us. We feel we do already love God. However, we cannot imagine loving God, Whom we cannot see, with that kind of love.

Dilemma number 1: How could I ever do that?

Next, as soon as we read Jesus words, Love your neighbor, the word neighbor often conjures up some of the following immediate thoughts. What about our neighbor’s barking or unleashed dog, their cat that stays at our house, their un-mowed lawn, their unfriendliness, the weeds in their lawn, flower beds or bushes, the lack of mulch or pine straw around their bushes and flowers, their loud parties, the tools they borrowed and have not returned, or their children that take shortcuts through our