Loving Each Other

1 John 4:16-21

And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. ¹⁷ This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. ¹⁸ There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

¹⁹ We love because he first loved us. ²⁰ Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. ²¹ And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.

The first paragraph of the above scripture has given us great confidence when we learn to rely on God's love for us. Our message in yesterday's blog covered the assurance we have that God really does love us.

Today we want to approach the question, "How can we know that we respond to God's love with the love we are to have for him?"  Verse 19 in our text is short and sweet and to the point. "We love because he first loved us."

Now, just as in the description of God's love for us, the Bible is going to give us a standard by which we can actually learn and know if we love him as we should. It's in verse 20 and it needs to be memorized and taken to heart by every Christian on the face of the earth. Read it closely and carefully. "Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar."  Then verse 21 comes along as John relays to us a command, given by God. "Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister."

This is where we could start to mention all those loveable brothers and sisters in the faith that have brought disappointment and discouragement to us.  We will even confess their actions have made it next to impossible for us to love them. (This is also where we forget to mention the times we have been the source of disappointment and discouragement to others.)  If, because of God's love for us, we have fallen deeply in love with him, yet harbor grudges and hatred toward our brethren, God calls us a liar. With that type of motivation to love him while hating other members of his family, we are demonstrating we actually don't love him!

So here is God's standard for our love toward him. It must be shown through our love for others. How sad if we, because of bad feelings toward other Christians, rob ourselves of a loving relationship with God.  He continues to love us all, and sent his son to die for all, making us all members of his spiritual family. 

The real joy of this life comes only when we experience God's love for us, and in turn experience love for each other. That formula not only makes for peaceful relationships, it demonstrates to the world  the true meaning of love. 

<ronbwriting@yahoo.com>