Today’s Scripture: 1 John 4:21, NASB- “And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God must also love his brother and sister.”
I laughed out loud at where God “happened” to have me in His commands this morning. With our Presidential election in the United States of America taking place tomorrow, there is very little “united”. However, we can be united in the love of God.
1 John 4:20 is clear, “If someone says, “I love God,” and yet he hates his brother or sister, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother and sister whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.” (NASB) I love You God and I need Your help and discernment to love others.
Ironically while writing this, I heard my eight-year-old daughter declare over her breakfast that she cannot wait for this election to be over! All of God’s children are exhausted by the rhetoric and ads intended to influence us. I am trusting in 1 John 4:4 that states, “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”
We must live and listen to Who is in us. 1 John 4:6 states “We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.” (NIV) LORD, I love You and ask to recognize Your Spirit.
1 John 4:1-3 warns us, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. (NKJV) This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.” (NIV)
Fortunately, we can love because God first loved us as we are told in 1 John 4:19. We are also promised that we do not need to fear because “There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.” 1 John 4:18 (NASB)
“This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus.” 1 John 4:17 (NIV) “And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.” 1 John 4:16, (NIV)
We are also encouraged by 1 John 4:7 “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.” (NIV) “Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.” 1 John 4:8 (ESV)
We must swing the state of our hearts to the love of God. “If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God.” 1 John 4:15 (NIV). God, I am confessing now that Jesus is Your Son, and I am trusting that You are living in me. LORD, I am seeking to live in Your love today and every day, regardless of the cares of this world.
Will you live in God’s love today?
Today’s Prayer: Thank You Heavenly Father for loving us. Thank You for giving Jesus Christ to us to be the Savior of this world so we can live as You command. Help us LORD to live in Your love. We are gathered now as brothers and sisters to confess our love and trust in You. Regardless of worldly elections we know we are Your elect, and we find true love in You. Please grant us Your Spirit. Your will Father, be done. Amen.
Leave a Reply