1 John 3 - Love One Another

(11) This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another.
(13) Do not be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you. (14) We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death.

Wow, what an awesome challenge, one we easily forget and don’t practice regularly. What I mean is, we have no problem preaching the love of Jesus, yet holding grudges against those who have hurt us. We have enemies and revel in their misfortunes. We see people in need and judge them, instead of helping them. Then we return to church and speak of loving everyone, where our actions show otherwise. This is a shame, and something we need to correct. (18)Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.

We are commanded to love one another. Not only those we like, not only ones like us, not only if they love us back, but love one another, everyone! And not just say we love them, but show it through our actions. Help those who are in need, instead of judge them. Love your enemy, instead of spreading vicious words. Forgive and love those who have wronged you, instead of holding grudges. I didn’t say it would be easy, but it is all possible through Jesus Christ and it is a command from God. If we do this, the we can let the world see that our words AND our actions are the SAME, not hypocritical, so our actions of love to one another bring glory to God and others are brought to the salvation of Jesus.