Dear Friends,
Today let’s ponder on God’s Word from 1 John3:17,18 from 3 translations:
“But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.(ESV)
“If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.”
( NIV)
“But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?
My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. ( NKJV)
1 John3:17,18
How many of us included, loving other Christians is among our priorities? Would it surprise you to know that God ranks this mutual love very high among His priorities for you?
John gave us a command in 1 John 3:11, that we should love one another. Did you know that the commandment to love others is one of the most repeated exhortations in the New Testament? It appears some 55 times, as a direct command! Here are some of the forms it takes:
“Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” Matt. 5:44
“Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matt. 22:39, and seven other times in the NT)
“Love one another” (John 13:34 and 14 other times in the NT.)
“Do everything in love” (1 Cor. 16:14)
“Serve one another in love” (Gal. 5:13)
“Bear with one another in love” “Live a life of love” “Speak the truth in love” “Put on love” “Pursue love” “Stir up one another to love” “Love one another deeply” and more.
Therefore one of the most important things you should focus on is to love the Lord your God with all you have, and to love your neighbor as yourself; to love one another as Christ has loved you; to love the person in another pew with God’s love.
Last Sunday, a dear friend asked me why was Abel’s sacrifice accepted & Cains rejected?
I later reflected & looked at the contrast between Cain and his hate and murder, and Christ and His love and self-sacrifice. We also saw that the prime model of love, the key motivation for love, the supreme might behind such love is found in v. 16 “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.” Hence Abel’s sacrifice was true worship, an offering pleasing before God.
Selflessness is key to our relationship with God. Let there be genuine love shared among us. Most of us still do not understand what it means to show LOVE. Selfishness sadly has robbed us of our witness & show God’s unconditional love.
We do not understand what’s on the other side of the Wall. Imagine seeing your parents climbing steps to reach that height where they can see the other side of that wall, they look back at you, their faces light up, they smile back at you, you become curious. What can they see that we cannot, you want to see. If we can only be true to ourselves, pray fervently, allow ourselves to let go of hurt and hate, it is then we will realise, all material things we pursue and hold onto, are nothing compared to the luxury God has for us on The Other Side of The Wall‼️
In the early Church we read they loved each other enough to share and care for the needs of others (Acts 2:44-46)
We as the Church, the body of Christ needs to sound the alarm& return back in true Repentance and loving God & neighbor. 1 John 3:17,18
The 7 churches of the book of Revelation is a reminder for all of us. Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand. Revelation 3:15-19 is a must read. God have mercy on us. Return, repent & be restored to doing the Father’s will. Our Lord Jesus said,
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Matt7:21 NKJV
– Mathew Jacob
Gift of God Ministries
Amen! Well said and appreciated. Truly loving and caring for those who are difficult to love or are hateful people or are false God worshippers— those are who we are here for! Jesus wants his love to reach them through us. How are we portraying our Savior when we speak hate, bitter, judgement, prideful, or spiteful words? Show the world his love. Amen.
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