Month: July 2015

If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For the person who does not love his brother he has seen cannot love the God he has not seen. And we have this command from Him: The one who loves God must also love his brother. 1 John 4:20-21 HCSB

One of the songs I remember as a teenager is the song “Get Together” by the music group Youngbloods. Wikipedia reports, “The song was written in the early 1960’s by American singer-songwriter Chet Powers. The song is an appeal for peace and brotherhood, presenting the polarity of love versus fear, and the choice to be made between them. The song was originally recorded as ‘Let’s Get Together’ by The Kingston Trio in 1964 but was made popular by the Youngbloods when they released their version in 1967. A renewed interest in the Youngbloods’ version surfaced when it was used in a radio public service announcement in 1969 and peaked to #5 on the Billboard Hot 100.”

John could have used a song like “Get Together” as a theme song for his messages we find in 1 John. These two verses call all believers to love those around them. It is easy to say that one loves God, but the evidence of that love is how we treat those around us, our family, friends, and work associates.

Challenge: How are you treating those who are closest to you? You cannot truly love God and neglect to love others who God created and loves as much as He loves you. Listen to the song, “Get Together” by the Youngbloods on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRAhTY3Dwl0

In this, love is perfected with us so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment, for we are as He is in the world. There is no fear in love, instead, perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment. So the one who fears has not reached perfection in love. 1 John 4:17-18 HCSB

One of my fears is snakes. I know that most snakes are harmless, but I never want to encounter a snake. Once I was playing golf and hit my ball into the woods. I found my ball and decided to hit it out. Just as I swung to hit the ball, a snake slithered past my right foot. It scared me and I jumped back. Fortunately, the snake seemed to be just as afraid of me and headed off into the woods as quickly as he could.

These two verses tell us that judgment day is coming when everyone will appear before Christ to give an account for his or her actions. If one has accepted Jesus as Lord, he has no reason to fear judgment day. Believers can look forward to judgment day because it will be the end of sin and the beginning of eternal life with God in heaven.

Challenge: As a believer, you can face the future with confidence. Never fear God’s judgment or eternity. Focus on God’s never-ending love and forgiveness. His love is perfect. Allow Him to use you to love others.

No one has ever seen God. If we love one another, God remains in us and His love is perfected in us. 1 John 4:12 HCSB

There have been times in my life when I have have been deeply hurt by what someone has done or said to me. At other times there have been people who have taken advantage of me or others. I have been able to forgive these people in my heart, but I have found it hard to actually love them the way God loves them. I still struggle with bitterness and hard feelings toward some.

This is totally different from the way that God loves and forgives. He loves people with a never-ending love and He casts their sins as far away as the East is from the West and remembers them against them no more. God’s love is perfect.

This verse calls for us to love others as God loves them. The only way that I can love those who have hurt me in some way is through the power of God. It is hard to forget when we have been hurt deeply and treated unfairly. When we love and forgive those who do not deserve our love, His love is perfected in us.

Challenge: Love others as God loves them. Forgive those who have hurt you and love them as God loves them with an Agape type of love. Pray that God will use you to express His love to others. May others see and experience the love of God through you. Who do you need to forgive and love today?