It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter. Proverbs 25:2

Posts tagged ‘Love’

God’s Kingdom Laws: Submit to Others, Do Not Retaliate and Do Justly   1 Peter 2:13-25

There are natural laws and spiritual laws that are in place that dictate natural and spiritual outcomes. There are the laws of the various nations and countries that the citizens must abide by or they could be, in danger of paying the penalty for their failure to obey. We are more familiar with the natural laws that govern this world, such as the law of gravity. As followers of Christ,we are called to humble ourselves, submit to others and to do the right things.  

1 Peter 2:13-17 Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good.   For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men— as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God.   Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king. 

Most people do not have a good understanding of God’s spiritual laws that govern the spiritual realm such as the act of submitting to those in authority, because it is the will of God for His people. When we are doing the right thing even when others are offending us we are showing the world we trust in God’s faithfulness to provide and protect. We are to give honor to all people because they are image bearers of God. Jesus told the people to render unto Cesar the things that belong to Cesar which was respect, that is due all who are in authority but we are to fear(obey) God. If it is not illegal, immoral, against our health and safety, or God’s laws, we are to submit to those in authority. 

1 Peter 2: 18-22 Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh.For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully.  For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God.  For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: “Who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth”;

We often see people who want to seek revenge or demand an eye for an eye when it comes to their injuries or injustices. Some people feel they are justified in wanting harsh penalties of others because of what they experienced,or because of the unequal treatment done by others.  They want just as much, if not more, punishment to be given to       the perpetrator or violator, but God tells us that He will be the vindicator and judge. 

Some people are punished more harshly because of their class, culture or socioeconomic background and they feel cheated.  But this is all part of the pride of life, in that we want to be esteemed just as great as others, or at least be vindicated to the same extent. God has told His people to trust Him to vindicate us and to love mercy in whatever form it may arise, knowing God is the ultimate judge who will judge justly in the end. 

1 Peter2:23 who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously. NKJ

God has shown us His way and that is for us to do justly, just do the right thing. We are to give everyone, unbiased and unprejudiced treatment, doing the right thing for the right reasons. This is how we are to walk truthfully and in integrity, without looking for anything in return, not even right treatment in return. This is the requirement that the true followers of Christ should set for themselves. We are to love mercy; we should be devoted to showing forgiveness and celebrate it with passionate, open-hearted gladness when it is shown to others. We should not seek out punishment toward others, but should always look to show mercy and forgiveness no matter the situation, as God has forgiven us. 

Micah 6:8 He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?

Jesus showed us how-to walk-in mercy and forgiveness. On the night Jesus was betrayed He washed the feet of His disciples including the one who betrayed Him, to be put to death. Jesus gave broken bread to those who were with Him as a symbol of His body that would be broken for them and He poured the wine as a representation of His blood that would be poured out for humanity.  We are told to remember Christ every time we take part in the act of communion, the one who gave His life for many. For this reason, God requires mercy of His children. We also can follow His examples of being broken bread and poured out wine by forgiving others and loving others in spite of what they do to us.

The world is living life in fear of lack, in scarcity and in self-focus, while the true followers of Christ are giving out of their hardship, and sharing their resources and loving those that were unlike themselves. Christ is the One who gave Himself for others, the One who became poor that others may be rich, the One who died that others might have abundant and eternal life and the One who forgave and loved those that abused and reviled Him. 

2 Corinthians 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich. NKJ

1 Peter 2:23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. NIV

Those who have accepted Jesus as their Lord, God has called them kings and priests on the earth. These are God given earthly positions that have certain roles, functions and responsibilities upon the earth. As kings we hold the position of royalty as in the family of God and should conduct ourselves accordingly. As priests we offer prayers and petitions for the people that are in our sphere of influence.  

 We see these roles displayed in the life of Christ, the One in whom we are to get our identity and should also mimic, impersonate and imitate while we live on this earth. As image bearers of God and Christ followers our purpose is to display the love, mercy and the forgiveness of God which brings glory to His name on the earth.  

 1 Peter 2:24-25 who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.   For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

We are now part of a new family, citizens of a new country and our allegiance is to our Sovereign King, Jesus. Many get stuck in their own ideas about their rights and ethnicity in the flesh that they fail to be transformed in their minds into the image of Christ and to make Jesus the Lord over all. There is so much division in the church, in the body of Christ because many refuse to let go of the old nature, old life and its priorities. When Jesus is King over our lives He will reign in every area of our life regardless of our past, affinities or affections.

For all who by faith believe in Jesus as their Lord and King, God has given them the Holy Spirit to help them in their weaknesses. God knows our heart and mind and the Spirit of God intercedes for us that we may walk according to His will. Though our life choices may not be perfect, God knows how to take our bad choices, and what the enemy meant to be evil against us, and turn it around and to work it for our good. It will then become as a testament of God’s goodness, mercy and His glory. 

When we have knowledge of God the Father and Jesus Christ whom He has sent, then we are able to see more clearly the Godly nature and workings of God in the earth and in the spiritual realm. Satan’s major attack is against the people of God, while trying to tempt them into rebelling against God. But God in His Sovereignty and purpose will use the very things the enemy has brought against His people to transform them and develop them into the image of His dear Son.  

God has always had representatives in the earth to show His way, His word and His righteousness. From the beginning with Abel, to the laws of the Jewish nation, to the prophets and now through the word of Christ, God has always provided an example to the world and to show them the way of salvation.  It has always been the choice of every person to us their will to choose whether they will remain in their fallen mind set or to let go and choose to obey the light of God’s word. 

Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe, sin had left a crimson stain but He washed me clean as snow.

 

 

 

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 Our Forgiveness Was A Great Cost To God 

We may come to God in an emotional state of despair, anguish and hopelessness because our sins are so overwhelming to us.  Some may have given up and have lost heart in believing that they will ever be made right with God or forgiven. But in every situation God has provided a way of escape.

Sin is a serious matter to a Holy and Righteous God and it cannot be taken lightly. It was of a very high cost to God, at the expense of the blood, death and resurrection of Jesus His Beloved Son. At this great cost, God was able to atone and pay the costly sin debt that all mankind owed because of their rebellion against Him.  

Romans 3:25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— NIV

I Corinthians 10:13 The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure. NLT

Sin cannot stand before God’s Righteousness and Holiness; light and darkness cannot occupy the same space. The wages of sin is death and thereby a Just and Holy God must requires the payment of life blood for the remission and forgiveness of sin. We all owe this debt to God because of our sins and only the blood of Christ can atone for it and make us once again right with God.

Romans 5:6,8 While we were still helpless [powerless to provide for our salvation], at the right time Christ died [as a substitute] for the ungodly. 

But God clearly shows and proves His own love for us, by the fact that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. AMP

All have sinned and come short of living rightly before God. Therefore, everyone must pay this debt owed to God for their acts of rebellion and sin.  No person can live a perfect life and they are not able to pay the debt that is owed to God because of their own sins.

But God in His lovingkindness, great compassion and mercy chose to provide forgiveness for all humanity and gave us the only sacrifice that could be made. It was His Son Jesus and through His life lived, His blood shed and the death He took on our behalf that paid our sin debt.

Romans 3:23-25 or all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, NKJ

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. NKJ

Sin that resulted in rebellion against God is no light matter. It is not something that God can turn a blind eye to and still be a Holy and Just God. Because of the sins of Adam and Eve an animal died, its blood was shed and clothing was made for them. The blood of animals could only cover their sins for a while but it did not remove them.

God’s grace came at the appointed time through Christ Jesus to pay the total debt of sin by the shedding of His blood, His deathand resurrection. Every sin debt will be paid for, but whose blood and death will stand before a Holy and Just God to make that payment? 

God has provided a payment for all sin debt through faith in Christ. It is every person’s free will to choose whether to have faith in the blood of Christ’s or not, and then they must stand before God for their own sins. 

Hebrews 9:22 And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission.

Everyone will stand before a Holy God for judgement, because we all have sinned; our sinful blood cannot atone for our debt. If we try to stand before God on our own we will be weighed in the balance and will be found lacking in not having lived a perfect life before God in our own strength. 

Daniel 5:27 TEKEL: You have been weighed in the balances, and found wanting;   

Romans 2:6-8 But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. God “will repay each person according to what they have done.” To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger.

Even after our fall God was moved by His great love for all mankind and provided another chance of salvation for humanity. God has given us another chance to escape the second death, which is total separation from God Himself. Thischance is done with a simple choice of our will to believe andhave faith in Jesus Christ the Son of God. 

Revelation 20:11-15

Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them.  And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.  And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire. NKJ

Many people are confused because of God’s love and forbearance toward us, thinking God will not judge sin andrequire mankind to pay for their sins eternally. But, a Holy, Just and Righteous God must require payment for sin or He will no longer be true to Himself and no longer be a Holy God. 

In God’s great mercy He provided another way for forgiveness to pay the debt mankind owed. God in His enormous and abundant love for us, He became the ransom and payment through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  

Romans 3:24-26 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.  God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

God who is a Just and Righteous God, became the One who judges sin and then He Himself provided the justification forthe sinner, through faith in Jesus.  It is an extreme insult to reject Jesus, it is a great offence and rudeness to a Holy God for mankind to refuse to accept such a great gift. Jesus came to rescue and deliver us that we may escape eternal death. Again, God does not take sin lightly and it was at a tremendous cost to Himself and His Son to make this provision of salvation to all humanity.

2 Corinthians 5:18-18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. NIV

To have this faith in God’s plan and provision of Salvation through Christ is so simple, and yet so profound!

Psalm 85:10 Mercy and truth have met together; Righteousness and peace have kissed.NKJ

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 The Awesome Love of God                        

Love is truly the one universal language. The expression of Love is understood no matter what country, culture or dialect it may be, and every people group has a way of expressing their love to others. The ability to know love is an awesome gift from God.  Natural love is something that is shared, imparted and communicated not only to those who are in love but it is also felt by the people around them. But, through of the power of the Holy Spirit God has given us a supernatural love and by this Spirit we have the ability to love others as God has loved us. 

1 John 4:12-16 No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us.  By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.  And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world.Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.  And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. NKJ

This love that we experience and share is the expression of the character of God Himself. God who is the total embodiment, picture and example of love, gave us the ability to show love, tobe loved, and to comprehend the love of others.

This is such a gracious gift from God, He could have made us without emotions and without the ability to express and experience love. But God in His awesome love and great compassion for us, gave us the capacity to know the natural love of humanity and through the power of the Holy Spirit we have the ability to display and show the supernatural love of God to others. Just as He has loved His creation and His people, we too have this ability to love others as He has loved us. 

John 3:16-17 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.  For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. NK

2 Corinthians 13:14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen. NKJ

God saw the depravity of fallen mankind and the hopelessness of our lost state. His great compassion recognized our need to be saved from eternal destruction.  Because of God’s awesome Love for humanity, He gave His best and sent His only begotten Son, Jesus. Jesus came into the world to seek and to save those who would come to believe through faith in Christ for the forgiveness of their sins.  

1 John 4:7-11 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.   In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.  In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.NKJ

We can see and observe the natural love a parent has for a child or child for a parent. We can feel the love intuitively, or just through the absorption of feelings of the love between a beloved and their cherished one. That is why we like to read novels and watch movies about the simple interaction of love,which is expressed from one person to another and this is a gift from God. 

Jude 1:21 keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. NKJ

Again, just as we are able to communicate love to others in our natural state, God has given us the ability to show the supernatural love of God to others through the power of the Holy Spirit. The supernatural love of God transcends and surpasses natural attachments and bonds. God’s Holy Spiritliving in us knits His love in our hearts for others, that they may know and see His love for them through us.

Colossians 2:2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, NKJ

Galatians 2:20 have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me  NKJ

As we grow in our knowledge of God and His love for us, God’s love is rooted in us and flows through us and spreads abroad.  

1 Thessalonians 1:3 remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father, NKJ

Romans 5:5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. NKJ

Out of the love God has for us, Jesus came and fulfilled the law of God in the Old Testament and paid all the sin debt that we owed because of our rebellion against God. And in the New Testament Jesus has given us this commandment, to love one another as He has loved us. That is selflessly and generously, putting the welfare of others before ourselves.  

John 15: 12-13This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.  Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. NKJ

In showing the awesomeness of God’s love;

We are to reveal the love of God to others.

We are to reflect the glory of God in the earth.

We are to resemble the character and likeness of God in our daily lives.

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Perfect Love Casts Out Fear

The Holy Spirit living in us will teach us how to cast out fear and how to not allow it to linger. Love is a fruit of the Spirit, as with any fruit it must be attached to its source, watered and nourished for it to mature into a fully developed harvest. Fear is a natural response of fallen mankind to difficult situations and perfect love is a supernatural response by the Holy Spirit. The word did not say that we would not fear but through His love we can cast it out.  

When we rest in the faithfulness of God and His perfect love for us that is shown in His compassion, mercy, forgiveness and grace, we can choose to not allow anxiety and fear to stay and take root in our minds. We are persuaded and taught to know, by the Holy Spirt, that nothing can separate us from the love of God. No matter what we may go through, God sees and foresees our solutions. We are able to remove doubt and worry based on His word and our understanding of His love, compassion, mercy and grace for us. 

Romans 8:38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. NKJ

1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. NKJ 

It is maturity, growth and fellowship with the Holy Spirit that gives followers of Christ the ability to stand on the faithfulness of God and His perfect love. We understand trouble is a part of life but we trust God in the midst of it. We can refuse to adopt fear as a personal possession, like a pet, and will not become comfortable with having it in our minds and souls to linger around and taunt us. The Holy Spirit enables us to trust God’s love even in hard and chaotic times realizing that nothing will happen to us that God already foreknew the problem and prepared a solution. 

Isaiah 26:3 You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. NKJ

1 Corinthians 10:13  No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. NKJ

Romans 8:29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. NKJ

During these times of social, physical, mental and spiritual unrest, the people of God must learn to walk in the power of the Holy Spirit. Resting and trusting in the perfect love of God is what helps us to throw out the fear the world is trying to produce and instill in us. Every believer of Christ has the abilityto walk in the Spirit of this perfect love and to display God’s traits of compassion, mercy, forgiveness and grace.  This is done through a close relationship and a mature knowledge of God the Father and Jesus Christ whom He sent. 

John 17:3 And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. NKJ

Psalms 27:14 Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord! NKJ

When we know who God is and who we are in Him, then the things of this world will not produce that paralyzing fear in us because we trust in our heritage as children of the Most-High King. Many weapons may be formed and many tongues may speak against us but they will not succeed and will be reproved and denounced in the end.  Perfect love casts out fear because itrests in the protection and generosity of God and His inheritance. 

Isaiah 54:17 ​No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servant of the LORD, and their righteousness is of Me,” Says the LORD. NKJ

Isaiah 54:14 ​In righteousness you shall be established; You shall be far from oppression for you shall not fear; And from terror, for it shall not come near you. NKJ

To say we have faith in God and live in fear is an oxymoron. These are two polar opposites and cannot coexist because light and darkness cannot occupy the same space at the same time.We are told to think on the things that are pure, just and of good report and not things that cause confusion, hatred and fear.  We all will choose what we allow to stay in our minds and what we will fix our thoughts on, but we are told to let the mind of Christ be in us. Our hope is rooted in the perfect love of God for us and not we ourselves. 

Philippians 2:5-6 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. NKJ

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy- meditate on these things. 

Fear is a natural reaction but faith is a supernatural action that we are empowered with and it is spiritually understood and perceived through the knowledge of God’s perfect love for us. This world is fixated on going after love in all its various forms and are desperate to be connected and to receive love, whether it is to be a parent, to have a spouse or to be in a good family. Some people believe these love relationships are the most important thing in life and if they fail to have a spouse, child, family or friends they are seen as failures. This is not God’s truth because His love gives with no need of replication.  

Psalms 27: 5   For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; In the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock. NKJ

The fear of failure in life, career and relationships has hinderedsome people from knowing the true expression of God’s unconditional love, which gives love with an open hand. They lose sight of the joy of giving without looking for anything in return. No matter who we are or where we live there are people around us who are in need of love, be it a child longing for the love of a parent or a person who wishes they had a friend, we can be that love. We can learn to work without complaint and trust God with our life and our future. It may be difficult and challenging because people are messy and hard to approach and please, but so were we in our mess before Christ.

Psalms 27:1,    The LORD is the light of my salvation whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid? NKJ 

As mature followers of Christ we are to give the perfect love of God as He loved us, with an open hand and a generous heart.  God has feely given to every person His love through Christ, to accept or reject.  When we give His love to others it takes our mind off of ourselves and our lack and we become givers of love and not in desperate need of love.   We can learn how to walk in the chaos of this world without holding on to the fear that comes at us by knowing God’s word is true. 

2 Corinthians 4:8-10 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair, persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down but not destroyed: Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. KJV

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Love God by Loving Others

Respect- to esteem or regard favorably, to give a sense of worth or value to a person- to hold in honor- to refrain from intruding upon or interfering with…

We are to respect God, to think highly and favorably of Him. We honor God because He is worthy as the Creator of the universe. We value God and honor God when we honor and respect those who are created in His image. Respect by definition comes from a place of love and value for a person. This is why we cannot be disrespectful to a person and then say we love them.

We are to respect people because they were formed by God for the express purpose of carrying Him image. To disrespect people who are created in the image of God is to disrespect God! People may say they respect or love a person but hate their children or family, this cannot be. Either they will love them and their children or hate them, but they cannot do both in truth. They may need that person or want them, but they love themselves more. Some may speak words of love and respect, but in their heart there is animosity. Some may even deceive themselves into believing they can love God while hating and disrespecting their brothers, but God’s word says this cannot be so.

How can we say we love God whom we have not seen and hate our brother whom we have seen? The answer is we cannot. Someone who has hatred in their heart for anyone, no matter the reason, the love for God is not in them.

1 john 4:20-21    If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? 21 And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.

This is not to say we have not been wronged. It is these painful and cruel things that Satan would use to tempt us with the thought that we have every right to hate. People are blinded by Satan to the truth of God’s word and many even live in self-deception. Sometimes we deceive ourselves into believing we are either justified in our hate or God understands what we have been through and He would not require us to forgive these people. This too is a tactic of the enemy, to get the people of God to deny God’s truth and live a lie that is rooted in Satan’s hatred of God.

2 Corinthians 4: 3-4   But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.

Those who decide to go their own way and refuse to love they refuse the truth of God’s word and are perishing. They may not realize their minds are being blinded by Satan, the prince of this world system, and their life is headed for destruction. Self-deception is one of the hardest lies to overcome, because we have trained our minds to believe we are right and therefore close our minds to the truth. The only way to come out of this darkness is to let the light of God’s word shine into our hearts and minds.

 1 John 3: 10-11                     In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother. 11 For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another,

We must practice the righteousness of God which is faith in Jesus’ completed work for our salvation. This is not our works of attending church, visiting the sick or just reading our Bibles. It is a relationship with God through the life of Jesus. It is accepting God’s love for us through faith in Jesus and the understanding of His Word. True faith gives us the love we need for others by the power of the Holy Spirit. This is not a thing that can be done by the natural man. This love for others is how the children of God will be known. Because they show love they are distinguished from the children of the devil and people of this world.   The love we show to the undeserving displays the God in us.

1 John 3: 14-17          We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death. 15 Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. 16 By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

It is when we show love to all those who are created in the image of God we give witness to the love of God that is in us. If we hate others, Jesus says we have committed murder. This is a hard but powerful statement and it is the truth of God’s word. Jesus came and saved us out of our sinful state, while we were looking and acting like Satan. Jesus died the death on the cross to redeem us back as children of God. As children of God we are to lay down the hurt, pain and injustices we have received from others just as Jesus did for us.

Jesus did not want to die. He even asked the Father to take that cup away from Him and yet He submitted Himself to God’s will. We too, in our flesh do not want go through the process of forgiving others who misuse and abuse us.   We also, must submit our will to God just as Jesus did and ask Him to give us the love we need for those who have wronged us. In this God will be glorified in that situation.

1 John 3: 18    My little children let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth

We are told to show the love of God in our actions not just in words. Many can talk a good game, saying all manner of lovely things, but God tells us to demonstrate this love by our actions. Love gives of itself. God so loved the world He gave His only Son. When we see someone with a need we are to take from our abundance and help those who are without.

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