Sunday, February 22, 1998 This Week’s Lesson:
In this week's lesson, which came from I John 3:1 and 4:7-18, the Apostle John wrote about God's love for us and about what should be our love for one another. There is not much real love in this world today. In an environment where most people only live for themselves, our business workplaces have become very combative, and our neighborhoods have become like war zones. Nevertheless, God loves each of us, and He gives us several reasons why we should and can love each other. The first is that He treats us as His children. A Christian is not a robot. A Christian also is not one who must live in perpetual fear of doing the wrong thing. As children of our heavenly Father, we exist in a nuturing environment where we can feel His never ending love for us.
A second reason that we can love one another is because God has demonstrated His love to us by sending His only begotten Son, Jesus, to die on the cross for us. God made a commitment to humanity and then followed that commitment up with a sacrifice and an action. As His children, He teaches us that we can do the same. He paid the ultimate price by offering His Son on our behalf, so we can determine within ourselves that we will make the appropriate sacrifices and take the proper actions in our own life to benefit others. A third reason that we can love one another as we should is because God lives within those of us who have trusted in the finished work of Jesus at Calvary. We are indwelled by our Creator and the Judge of all the earth, and failure to show the right kind of Christian love for one another is a poor evidence of the hope that Christ has put within us. It is only when we consistently demonstrate to those around us the love of Christ that we give solid evidence that we truly know Him.
The final reason that we can love others as we should is because God has removed our reasons for fearing. Many people fear death. Many others fear the toils of this life. For the person who has a personal relationship with the Lord, these fears do not have to be. He gives us confidence in the coming judgment, and He gives us the encouragement that we need to daily live for Him. John wrote that perfect love casts out fear. We can follow the teaching of Proverbs 14:27 about having a healthy reverence for God, but we do not have to worry about our heavenly Father hitting us with a big stick just because we make mistakes. He loves us and because of that, we can love others. The world does not know much about this kind of true love. But as Christians, let each of us ask the Holy Spirit to use us in a personal way to manifest His love for humanity to others. As you go through this and the coming weeks, try to love those around you as God would have you. Also, try to give a word of encouragement to those around you who might be hurting.
Tom of Spotswood"He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life." (I John 5:12)
"And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart." (Jeremiah 29:13)
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