For
If We Don't Love People
We
Can See,
How
Can We Love God, Whom We Cannot See?
Scripture
1
John 4
17
And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be
afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence
because we live like Jesus here in this world.
18
Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we
are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have
not fully experienced his perfect love.
19
We love each other because he loved us first.
20
If someone says, “I love God,” but hates a fellow believer, that
person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can
we love God, whom we cannot see?
21
And he has given us this command: Those who love God must also love
their fellow believers.
Observation
People
… do you have a problem loving people?
I
have to admit that it is easier to love people that love me.
But
how about people that act like we are the scum of the earth, that
mistreat us and that look down on us?
What
about people that smell different, look different, or talk different?
What
about people who are Republicans or who are Democrats, maybe who are
Alt right or Alt left, Neo-Nazi's or Communists?
People
are a big problem for us, aren't they?
We
may not agree with a person stand politically and we may not agree
with his or her lifestyle, but God's Word teaches us that we are to
love “people”. We are to even love our enemies!
Matthew
5
43
“You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and
hate your enemy.
44
But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! 46 If
you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even
corrupt tax collectors do that much.
47
If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from
anyone else? Even pagans do that.
Application
I
will not give up on the people that dislike me right now. How about
you?
Prayer
Heavenly
Father, You know my heart. You know me better than anyone else knows
me. Don't let there be one ounce of hate in my body for the people
around me. Help me to always separate the sin from the sinner. Help
me to never forget that I am also a sinner and that I am far from
perfect. Give me Your heart so I can love the unlovely the way You
want me to love them.
Daily
Bible Reading: Jeremiah 31,32; 1 John 4
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