The Rivers State Deputy Governor, Dr. Ipalibo Harry Banigo says love was the bed rock of Christianity.
Banigo stated this while speaking as a guest preacher during the 2020, Mothers Union Conference of the Niger Delta Diocese Anglican Communion at St Cyprian’s Church in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
The deputy governor, who spoke on the theme: “Love Your Neighbour As Your Self” drawn from Leviticus 19:18, said “loving our neighbour is a way of demonstrating our love for God”.
She said that without love, there was no Christianity, noting that our Lord Jesus Christ epitomizes everything love ought to be.
“Because He is love all by Himself, He expects us to be love also, and that is why He gives us His word in 1st John Chapter 4. He calls us beloved, so, when you see yourselves, call yourselves beloved, when you see your neighbour, call your neighbour beloved, do not mind whatever quarrels or issues you have with your neighbour before, let us love one another because love is of God, and every one that loves is born of God and knows God. The Bible tells us that they that know their God shall do exploits,” Banigo further stressed.
According to the deputy governor, Christians must love unconditionally; noting that love must be extended to those who do not deserve it to make a difference.
“Those who call themselves our enemies, we do not have enemies but God said we should love them. The principle is to do to others what you want them to do to you. Do not discriminate, show agape love,” she added.
The deputy governor, who insisted that faith without work, was dead said, faith was propelled by love.
“No one has seen God but if we love one another, He dwells in us. If you have an offering for God, and you have a grudge against someone, you must make peace with such a person for your offering to be accepted by God, otherwise, your offering would be an exercise in futility”.
Banigo also expressed the need for Christians to learn how to prevent love from getting cold because of the wickedness in the land and the daily pressures of living, stressing that “we must make our ways right with God and continue to sow good seeds of love in the lives of those around us”.
