News & Updates

See & read about what is going on in the Warm Beach Camp & Conference Center community

Love God, Love People

Photo by Helena Lopes on Unsplash

Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

Matthew 22:37, 39 NLT

https://bible.com/bible/116/mat.22.37-39.NLT

 

In Matthew chapter 22, the religious leaders were trying to trap Jesus with “gotchya” questions intended to discredit him. With each one, Jesus responds with words that have taught everyone who has read or heard them the truth of God.

The chapter begins with the story of a king inviting the people of influence to a wedding banquet. People are refusing to come. The king instructs his staff to go invite anyone from anywhere. This Kingdom wedding banquet is available to anyone for any reason. One criteria, come dressed for a wedding. The message is clear: Fill this banquet up with anyone who wants to be part of my kingdom, regardless of position, class, or social status.

This story is followed up by challenges on taxes and resurrection.

The last challenge question is, “What is the greatest commandment?” Jesus responds with absolute clarity: Love God with everything you got. Love people as you love yourself.

Jesus places these two commandments side by side in importance, yet in a specific order as it relates to sequence. God first. People second. Both are incredibly important.

A little life experience has shown me why God must be first. It is easy to lose our way in relationships with people when we are not rooted in God and His truth. Being connected with God is being connected at the core with who we are made to be. We are made in the image of God. We are designed to be in relationship with God. He is the creator. God is our Savior through Jesus Christ. God is truth constantly revealed through the Holy Spirit. God is love consistently expressed through God the Father.

Yes, love God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit with everything we have.

Love people as we love ourselves. As we embrace our identity in Christ that is filled with forgiveness, void of condemnation, and transformed into a new way of living, we love people as we love ourselves. We move from being selfish to being selfless. We give our lives away to others gladly so that they may know God through Jesus Christ.

Do you know how Matthew 22 ends? Jesus asks the religious leaders a question: “Who’s son is the Messiah?”

Everyone is invited to answer Jesus’ question. Loving God and loving people is made possible only through Jesus Christ, God’s Son.

Encouragement: Embrace Jesus as God’s Son today. Receive the Holy Spirit and be guided into all truth. Love God. Spend time with God. Learn and know the Scriptures. Love people. Unconditionally. Love generously.

Prayer:  Dear Father God, thank you for inviting us to the banquet. Thank you for clear guidance on taxes. Thank you for helping us understand the resurrection. Thank you for inviting us into what is most important. We declare our love for You. Let us show our love by time spent with You. We declare our love for others. Let us show our love by our actions of kindness, truth and generosity towards others.

In Jesus name we pray,

Amen

-Ed McDowell, Executive Director
Warm Beach Camp and Conference Center

Horse Spotlight: Skyla

Age: 9 Breed: Pinto Height: 14.2 Weight: 980 Color: Chestnut White Paint with partial Medecine Hat Discipline: English & Western   Bio: With an endearing sparkle of mischief in her eye, Skyla is full of personality, willing, intelligent and sensitive to her riders. She came to Warm Beach Horsemanship (WBH) from a staff member (Holly) and we fell in love with her for our program. With her all-around strengths in English and Western seats, she has served both Warm Beach ...

Called & Transformed

When I was a kid, once a summer, Frank Cranston loaded up the church van with kids from Shoreline Free Methodist Church and drove us to Warm Beach Camp for Day Camp. Frank’s commitment each summer started my journey and love for camp ministry. Day Camp was influential in growing my faith and the counselors showed me how to be a follower of Jesus. I wanted to be a camp counselor when I grew up! Day Camp, Horse Camp, Fall ...

The Appearance Of

“In the morning, as Jesus was returning to Jerusalem, he was hungry, and he noticed a fig tree beside the road. He went over to see if there were any figs, but there were only leaves. Then he said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” And immediately the fig tree withered up.” Matthew 21:18-19 NLT The second half of Matthew 21 is a sharp contrast between the appearance of faith by the religious leaders and the real power ...