We must be ready for the love of Christ, to promote one another’s welfare, both spiritual and temporal. “Beloved, LET US LOVE ONE ANOTHER: FOR LOVE IS OF GOD; and every one that loves is born of God, and knows God.” 1 John 4:7 Love: agapē: affection or compassion. Love that is NOT based on the lovingness of the individual we are to love! God loves people who willingly disobey and mock Him “He that loves not does not know God; for God IS LOVE.” 1 John 4:8 This is how God showed His love among us: “He sent His one and only Son into the world that WE MIGHT LIVE THROUGH HIM. This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” 1 John 4:9-10 The mission of Jesus Christ was to provide the most positive proof THAT GOD COULD GIVE, or that we could receive, of His immeasurable love for the us. “Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to [HAVE TO] love one another.” 1 John 4:11 We must love one another for God’s sake; and then, no unkind bearing of a brother would make us withdraw our love from him; for if we have God for our purpose and example, IT WILL NEVER FAIL. “No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. THIS IS HOW WE KNOW THAT WE LIVE IN HIM AND HE IN US: He has given us of His Spirit.” 1 John 4:12-13 We definitely feel Him, though we cannot see Him; and IF we love one another HE LIVES IN US, and His love is perfected in us – love has then made its full achievement, having formed us according to His own nature because: “…GOD IS LOVE.”
IF WE LOVE ONE ANOTHER, GOD LIVES IN US AND HIS LOVE IS MADE COMPLETE IN US…
-Bill Stockham