We have been learning a lot in the book of First John from John the apostle about God's love for us and our love for others. God indeed loves people, and He has made every provision for us to have fellowship with Him. This love that God has shown is so vast and complete that rarely could any writer fabricate words that could describe it much less myself, but nonetheless we take pleasure in knowing that God love us. This love according to John should now pass through us and be relayed in and through our lives to others. Our love is being perfected by God when we receive Jesus as our Savior and Lord. Because Jesus is Lord, we are to obey Him, and John gives us in no uncertain terms today what Jesus shared as His commandment for us about love. John wrote in the book of First John chapter four and verse twenty-one:
And this commandment have we from him, That he who loves God love his brother also.
Notice with me first of all that John writes, “this commandment.” It is not a suggestion or a happenstance event, but rather it is a commandment from Jesus. If we love God, we are to love our brothers also. There is no exception given, nor is there any excuse provided. There is not a clause within this scripture that says, “if someone did you wrong, you are exempt.” It doesn't say, “if someone is from a different race, religion or creed this does not apply”. It doesn't say, “if the person cheers for an opposing team, you do not have to do this”. No rather it says, “he who loves God love his brother also.”
Now we certainly realize that people differ from one another. Some like one thing, and others enjoy the opposite. Some people have their preferences in sports, lack of sports, music, political parties, etc., but the overriding theme is that we are to love everyone, everywhere. Divisions that are caused by preferences often turn people against one another, and the things that we have in common with others make it much easier to love them. However, the commandment from Jesus is, “love one another”.
I suppose we would all do well to stop our busy lives for a while to consider our love life. Do we really love God? Do we reflect that love in our love for other people? How do we do when others wear the colors of another team or brandish the symbols of another party? May the Lord Jesus Himself help us by His Holy Spirit to recognize when we do not love others because of their uncommon attachments, and may the love of God be spread throughout the world by our personal examinations.
Next time we move on to the fifth and final chapter of the book of First John, and we will begin the discussion about Jesus being the begotten Son of God. So, read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow...there is more...
Look for the new devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ; www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore
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