Our love for God is either confirmed or refuted by the way we love our brothers and sisters in Christ.
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Scripture
1 John 4:19-21
“We love because he first loved us. 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. And he has given us this command; Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.”
Observation
It is impossible to love “the God who loves”, without loving His children. Our love for God is either confirmed or refuted by the way we love our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Application
Love is demonstrated when there is an opportunity to be ‘unlovable’. When there is an opportunity to be impatient…love is patient. When there is an opportunity to be unkind…love is kind. When there is an opportunity to envy…love doesn’t envy. When there is an opportunity to dishonor…love gives honor instead.
1 John says that my heavenly Father has commanded me to love my brothers and sisters in Christ–this tells me that there will be times when my brothers and sisters in Christ are being ‘unlovable’, and a decision will have to be made. Will I love the way that God wants me to love, or will I react in my own sinful and ungodly way? Either way, the true condition of my heart is revealed through those ‘unlovable’ moments.
This week, I choose to react with love. I choose to extend the love that God has given me, on to the rest of His children around me. I choose to demonstrate my love for God, in the way that I react to difficult circumstances.
Prayer
God, thank you for loving me when I am unlovable. Thank you for teaching me what love truly looks like! Help me to daily demonstrate my love for you, in the way that I love your children.
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