19W e love because he first loved us. 20Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. 21And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister. (1 John 4:19-21)
Thoughts: Love is in some ways the essence of the Christian faith. The core of faith is not love without truth, but it is also not truth without love. This is the problem of the unity of the church today. We allow hate for brother or sister to fester. There is judgment in these words. How can you say you love God and hate your brother or sister whom you have seen? The judgment is there for us to discern for ourselves. This is why the unity and loyalty of the church is so important. Many people will irritate you in the church. By the way, this is not just the church, but also the rotary club, garden club, Bible study group, bird watching group, political group, wherever humans may gather. The human problem is we do not know how to get along- we do not know how to love. In our culture we have more money, more helpful machines (computers, talking watches, washing machines run by your phone, things that supposedly make life more easy to live). Yet there is so much anxiety, depression, sadness, lack of hope, lack of purpose, lack of meaning. Families are broken, we cannot get along with friends or others. We think that the church is all about us- what the church can do for us (a very consumeristic attitude). Consumerism is the opposite of love- and is the killer of the church. It is because we have taken our eyes off of the God who gives us love. We have forgotten to be loyal to each other. Being united with each other is a part of love and also a part of truth. Jesus also said, "The world will know that you are my disciples because of your love for one another." This means the truth is shown through our unity and love. it is a command (vs. 21). It is a judgment upon our faith and salvation (vs. 20). It is called for and elicited by the essence of the God who is love. So let us quit pretending love does not matter as much as feelings or hurts. Let love conquer your hurt, your ego, your fear. Love one another for love is from God.
The old legend is that the elderly apostle John, the last living apostle, would worship in Ephesus. He could not walk so they brought him in by cot. He could not preach- he was too weak. But what he would say every week to the congregation at the end of worship- "little children, let us love one another."
Prayer: Lord, help me to love. Let my love conquer my rudeness, my ego, my pride, my hurts. Let your love keep me in love with my brothers and sisters in Christ.
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