“Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” 1 John 4:11 NIV
“Ought” implies obligation or commandment. That love can be commanded shows that it is not primarily a feeling, but rather an action based on commitment. Love is not devoid of feeling, but it is not based on it. We must love others, or we are being disobedient to God. If everyone were easy to love, we wouldn’t need this powerful example of God’s love or this strong encouragement to love one another. The world loves those that love them. But Jesus commands us to love even our enemies (Matthew 5:43-47). Implicit in what John is saying here is that we must love those who may not be especially lovable or easy to love. If I may speak hypothetically, I am sure that no one can relate to this. We may have a mate that is self-centred and difficult to live with. John says, “Beloved, if God so loved you, you also ought to love that difficult mate.” There may be people in the congregation where we worship and serve our Lord whom we do not like. John says, “Beloved, if God so loved you, you also ought to love that difficult person.” It is in these difficult situations that God’s amazing love in Christ shines forth in us. If we’re having trouble loving someone, remember that God loved us while we were yet sinners. He sent His Son to a world that is filled with sin. If we are His children through the new birth, then we must be the channel for His love to flow to those who may not be very lovable.
PRAYER THOUGHT
Holy Spirit, continually spread the love of Jesus in our hearts to others.
PRAYER FOR TODAY
As Your children, Lord, through the new birth, through the Holy Spirit spreading the love of Jesus in our hearts, let us be the channel for Your love to flow to those who may not be very lovable. AMEN
I.B.R.A. Readings
Nahum 1:1-11
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