Most believers know that God loves them.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:16-18).
We know from this passage that God loved this world, that is, the inhabitants of this world, so much that he gave “his only begotten son” so that through him, the inhabitants of this world might be saved. Scripture tells us “God loves us” (I John 4:4-20), but do we understand the depth of this love and what this kind of love actually means?
“I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Live within my love. When you obey me you are living in my love, just as I obey my Father and live in his love. I have told you this so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your cup of joy will overflow! I demand that you love each other as much as I love you. And here is how to measure it—the greatest love is shown when a person lays down his life for his friends; and you are my friends if you obey me” (John 15:9-14 TLB).
We know from this passage that Jesus also loved this world, which is reflected in his statement, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” We know that Jesus eventually gave his life for the inhabitants of this world (Romans 5:7-8), but again do we understand the depth of this love and what this kind of love actually means?
“In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous. Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you. We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him” (I John 3:10-17)?
Based on scripture, we can now tell those who are children of God and those who are children of the devil, for those who do unrighteousness is not of God, neither are they that do not love their brother. A child of God understands the depth of this love and knows what this kind of love actually means. A child of God has the love of God within and is willing to lay down his life for his brother. A child of God will see a brother in need and will help him because he has God’s love within. Anyone who sees a brother in need and will not help him, hates his brother, is really a murderer at heart just like Cain.
If you possess the things a person needs to make it in this world, be it spiritual or be it material but you refuse to share with those in need, then how can you say that you have the love of God within? When you see a brother doing something that leads to condemnation, out of love, you owe it to him to tell him the truth of God’s word. By this, we will know for sure that we belong to the truth, for our love will not be in word or speech but in deed and in truth. God so loved us that he gave “his only begotten son,” who also so loved the world that he gave “his life,” so that we, the inhabitants of this world, may live. Surely, we can have this same level of love expressed by God and by Jesus for our brothers and not the kind of love that Cain had for his brother.
However, do not be deceived by the world’s definition of what love is. Worldly love is selfish, self-serving, impersonal, and is more about what it can get than what it can give. Worldly love attempts to mimic true love, often calling for “tolerance in the name of love,” while incorporating all kinds of sinful and destructive behaviors that moves in opposition to the love expressed by God and by Jesus.
As always, we pray that our inspirational message will abundantly bless you, greatly inform you, and that you will be the better for having read it. If blessed by this message, please share so that others may be blessed as well. Amen.
Enjoy your blessings - KW
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