April 4, 2019 – I John 5:1-3

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has become a child of God. And everyone who loves the Father loves His children, too. We know we love God’s children if we love God and obey His commandments. Loving God means keeping His commandments, and His commandments are not burdensome. I John 5:1-3.

It is so easy to say, I love you! We say it often, about lots of people and things, too.  It is when we have to do things we don’t want to do, or hear things we don’t want to hear, loving others becomes hard.  When we truly love, we reflect God’s love.  How to love is found in I Corinthians 13:4-7.

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud  or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged.  It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out.  Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.  

We do not choose our siblings, or our brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus, yet we love them, so we may be forgiven. “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you.” Matthew 6:14.

Loving others is the command of Jesus and this is the way to show God we truly LOVE Him.  In this way, we, as children of God, are enabled to defeat the world’s evil.

 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life. I John 5:12.

For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God. 1 John 5:4-5.