A week ago today, I posted my first entry on this blog; in celebration of that fact, I intend to write another post. Obviously, these will be somewhat infrequent- my life is not lacking in the “things to do” department. Hopefully, I will be able to write as I feel led.
Recently in my devotions, I have been reading towards the end of the New Testament, zoning in particularly on the letters of Peter and John. One thing that stood out clearly in my mind as I studied this section of Scripture was the theme of showing love to those around us. Here are some key verses from a few of these books:
-1 Peter 4:8 “Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.”
-2 Peter 1:5-7 “Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in moral excellence, knowledge, and in knowledge, self-control, and in self-control, perseverance, and in perseverance, godliness, and in godliness, brotherly kindness, and in brotherly kindness, love.”
-1 John 3:11 “For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.”
-3 John 5 “Beloved, you are acting faithfully in whatever you accomplish for the brethren, and especially strangers.”
Of course, 1 Corinthians 13 is an excellent chapter to read on this topic, but it focuses more on the characteristics of love, while these passages encourage us to love one another.
Every person naturally feels like the center of their own world. Consistently showing love to family, friends, and strangers is not something that comes easily to a lot of us. God has blessed some with a more loving attitude than others, but every Christian is capable of showing love. After all, who is the one who created love? He is the same God with whom we have a personal relationship. My Lord is able to fill each of His children with a love that we cannot contain. Specifically, Peter and John instruct us to love our sisters and brothers in Christ, but we are also encouraged to honour all people (1 Peter 2:17), including strangers (3 John 5). Here are a few things that help me remember that I ought to love others:
1. God is love. If we are to be imitators of Christ (3 John 11), we cannot ignore the most significant aspect of His character- His love. If I am His child, how can I not be filled with His love? (1 John 4:20)
2. God loves us. “We love, because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:19) I think of it this way: if God could love a sinner such as me, then it shouldn’t be a problem for me to love the sinners around me. God created each and every person with a unique character, and He sees the potential in every one of us.
3. Love is a witness. In this world, the tendency is to climb ladders and to look out for only yourself, not caring who gets hurt along the way. God’s commandment to love one another is in stark contrast to today’s culture, and if we live our lives in His love, we will be brilliant witnesses to the dark world around us.
4. Love is for our own good. To put it very simply, I will quote from 1 John 2:25. “This is the promise which He Himself made to us: eternal life.”
“Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” Peter and John saw a need for the church to grow in love. That need is still there today. As Paul said in his letter to the Corinthians, we can be gifted, impressive individuals, but if we do not have love, we are nothing. My prayer today is that there would be a renewing within the church of our love for one another. I believe if that happens, we will see many amazing acts of God, because when we love, we open the door for Him to work in our lives.
But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.
Recently in my devotions, I have been reading towards the end of the New Testament, zoning in particularly on the letters of Peter and John. One thing that stood out clearly in my mind as I studied this section of Scripture was the theme of showing love to those around us. Here are some key verses from a few of these books:
-1 Peter 4:8 “Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.”
-2 Peter 1:5-7 “Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in moral excellence, knowledge, and in knowledge, self-control, and in self-control, perseverance, and in perseverance, godliness, and in godliness, brotherly kindness, and in brotherly kindness, love.”
-1 John 3:11 “For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.”
-3 John 5 “Beloved, you are acting faithfully in whatever you accomplish for the brethren, and especially strangers.”
Of course, 1 Corinthians 13 is an excellent chapter to read on this topic, but it focuses more on the characteristics of love, while these passages encourage us to love one another.
Every person naturally feels like the center of their own world. Consistently showing love to family, friends, and strangers is not something that comes easily to a lot of us. God has blessed some with a more loving attitude than others, but every Christian is capable of showing love. After all, who is the one who created love? He is the same God with whom we have a personal relationship. My Lord is able to fill each of His children with a love that we cannot contain. Specifically, Peter and John instruct us to love our sisters and brothers in Christ, but we are also encouraged to honour all people (1 Peter 2:17), including strangers (3 John 5). Here are a few things that help me remember that I ought to love others:
1. God is love. If we are to be imitators of Christ (3 John 11), we cannot ignore the most significant aspect of His character- His love. If I am His child, how can I not be filled with His love? (1 John 4:20)
2. God loves us. “We love, because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:19) I think of it this way: if God could love a sinner such as me, then it shouldn’t be a problem for me to love the sinners around me. God created each and every person with a unique character, and He sees the potential in every one of us.
3. Love is a witness. In this world, the tendency is to climb ladders and to look out for only yourself, not caring who gets hurt along the way. God’s commandment to love one another is in stark contrast to today’s culture, and if we live our lives in His love, we will be brilliant witnesses to the dark world around us.
4. Love is for our own good. To put it very simply, I will quote from 1 John 2:25. “This is the promise which He Himself made to us: eternal life.”
“Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” Peter and John saw a need for the church to grow in love. That need is still there today. As Paul said in his letter to the Corinthians, we can be gifted, impressive individuals, but if we do not have love, we are nothing. My prayer today is that there would be a renewing within the church of our love for one another. I believe if that happens, we will see many amazing acts of God, because when we love, we open the door for Him to work in our lives.
But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.
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