If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother,
he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother
whom he hath seen, how can he love God
whom he hath not seen? And this
commandment have we from Him,
that he who loveth God love his brother also.
1John 4:20-21
Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ i
s born of God: and every one that loveth
Him that begat loveth Him also that is
begotten of Him. By this we know that
we love the children of God, when
we love God, and keep His commandments.
1John 5:1-2
Over and over the apostle John reminds us that if we are Authentic Christians we love God and if we love God then we also love the children of God. The Love for God and the love for His children are two sides of the same coin. To say: "I love" him or her, is only words even if they are true. It is easy to say: "I love" him or her, but it is hard to actually do loving things for another. The words of Jesus give us the answer as to how we are to show love for our brothers and sisters: "Then shall the King say unto them on His right hand, Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was an hungered, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took Me in: naked, and ye clothed Me: I was sick, and ye visited me I was in prison, and ye came unto Me. Then shall the righteous answer Him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee a stranger, and took Thee in? Or naked, and clothed thee? Or when we saw you Thee sick, or in prison, and came unto Thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say into you, inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these My brethren, ye have done it unto Me" (Matthew 25:34-39). If we say that we are reborn into the image of Jesus Christ then we have to live that image. The image of love, love of God, is a love of the brethren. When was the last time you visited the sick? Or when do you make sure that a brother or sister had clothing, not just clothes, but clothing that is an improvement from the old dirty and dusty clothes of one who has little income or discretionary money? When was the last time you invited someone from your congregation to a lunch, or a dinner, or even a breakfast? What about those strangers, visitors that come to your Church? Are they met with a firm and glad handshake welcoming them to the Church? Do you aid them to find a seat, or even infant rooms for a mother and a crying child? If none of this is true or lacking then it is possible that your love of God is questionable. I am not speaking of your salvation, only the love that you say you have but do not put into action. John admonishes us: "For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments: and His commandments are not grievous. For God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God" (1John 4:3-5).
By faith we show we love God. It is our faith in God that enables us to overcome the world, and to be loving for our brothers and sisters. The Greek word which is a present tense participle, translated into English is "believes" and we must note the "s" at the end of the word for that "s" makes this word to be in the present tense; therefore we must now, at all times be believing and that believing is shown in our Love for God and for His children.
Defend the poor and fatherless:
do justice to the afflicted and needy.
Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of
the hand of the wicked.
Psalm 82:3-4
Love is an Action verb
Richard L. Crumb
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