This is part two on this topic of loving our Christian brothers and sisters. This is a very important subject to the Lord. He has included so much information in His Word for us about this very thing.
Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. (1 Joh 4:11-12 NKJV)
As we demonstrate and live in a helpful, loving way toward our brothers and sisters in Christ, we are revealing to the world, and to anyone who cares to notice, that God abides in us. It is His life in us that enables and empowers us to serve one another in love.
This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. (Joh 15:12) Jesus modeled loving service in His life on earth. He showed love to His followers and to all those who came to Him for help or for teaching. The Lord Jesus is completely entitled to tell us to follow His example.
In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother. (1 Joh 3:10) This says it quite baldly: an unrighteous life and an unloving attitude to a brother is proof that we are NOT ‘of God.’ Wow! The only alternative to being ‘of God’ is to be a child of the devil, and we absolutely do NOT WANT to be identified as that.
If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? (1 Joh 4:20 NKJV) How can we possibly say that we love God if we can’t show love and helpfulness to people with whom we can interact, communicate, and see! God is being completely reasonable here.
Here are some hints on ways to show love to others:
- Be kind
- Be open-minded, friendly, and able to make the first move
- Empathize
- Be genuine
- Expect nothing in return
- Be a good listener
- Allow others to make their own decisions
- Love in small ways
- Keep showing up, and
- Look for ways that you can be of help to the individual or family.
We can do this because God has said that we are MORE THAN CONQUERORS! (Rom 8:37) Hallelujah!
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