John has been talking about antichrists and testing everything and then, says, “Beloved, let us love one another for love is of God.” (1 John 4:7)

It’s as if he is saying, regardless of all the other stuff, you still, absolutely, got to, always, no matter what, love one another because “everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.” (1 John 4:7, second part)

And the truth is, if the love of Christ compels me, I can no longer regard anyone according to the flesh. (see 2 Cor 5:12-19)

But my flesh wants to.

I’m drawn to those who are easy to love. I find myself avoiding those who aren’t. I like to be around those who love me and are like me and not so much those who aren’t.

Maybe that’s why 1 John and other books of the Bible talk (over and over) about loving one another. Because, honestly, it doesn’t come natural to most of us.

Jesus said, “ But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them. If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.”
( Luke 6:27-32)

When it comes to loving others, I have to learn to bend my will to His will. I want to pray to see others as Jesus does. I want to love the unlovely without even thinking they are unlovely!

And friends, we have to stop looking at love as an option, a feeling, or a squishy thing.

We are commanded to love one another. It’s a deliberate act of the will.

Let me say that again, it’s a deliberate act of the will.

We honor and glorify the Lord as we love others with the love of Christ.

May it never be said of us, “the God who holds your breath in His hand and owns all your ways, you have not glorified”. Those are hard words from Daniel (5:23).

What will you do in this day to glorify the God you trust for your next breath and for eternity?

What if that involves intentionally loving someone who is incredibly hard to love?

Yes, THAT person that just came to your mind.

You know, as we do this, we become a little more like Jesus and the world stands a better chance of seeing Him and experiencing revival!

Zach Williams sings a song about this. I hope you’ll take a moment and REALLY listen to the words in the link below.

Let’s love because God first loved us. Let’s love because, if we want the Lord to work in this crazy world, if we want revival, let’s don’t stand in the way by disobeying this command.

Take a moment, this Monday morning and listen to this song, https://youtu.be/jVROTHUf5Uo then let’s pray the Lord will help us see others as He sees them.

Let’s love them in word and deed. Let’s be the hands and feet of Jesus. Let’s love one another because love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. (1 John 4:7).

Let’s remember, this beginning of a new week, with new mercies, this is how we follow Christ and give God glory.

May it never be said of us, “the God who holds your breath in His hand and owns all your ways, you have not glorified” (Dan 5:23).

read1John

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