I John 3:14 “We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death.”
Have you ever been around a person you just didn’t like very much? Shhh. Don’t answer that. The truth is, we’ve all met people who are hard to love. But the good news is, we don’t have to love others based on whether or not they deserve love. We can love because God is love, and He lives in us.
When God lives in us, His love lives in us. One of the great things about love is that it gives life, both to us and to the people we share that love with! It uplifts, encourages, and brings joy. When we are filled with God’s love, it is a living spring welling up deep in our souls; it will bubble over and spill out to those around us. That’s just what love does.
If we don’t demonstrate a living, breathing love for other people, John says we don’t have God in us. Remember – God is love! If we don’t love our brothers, we are like dead people. We don’t uplift, encourage, or bring joy. Nothing in us bubbles over and spills out to give life. Without love, our mere presence brings depression and destruction. Without love, we are like death walking around.
I don’t know about you, but I want to be alive! I want God’s presence in me to give life to others. I am so grateful that He loves me, though I don’t deserve that love one bit. And I’m grateful that, if I let Him, He will put His own spring of life and love and joy within me, to share with others.
Dear Father, Thank You for Your love. Please help me to recycle and regenerate that love to everyone I meet!
Amen
LIke His Word, God’s love is alive. It, too, is powerful and life-giving. Thank you, Renae, for the reminder.
Blessings,
Jean
Thanks, Jean. You are always such an encouragement to me. 🙂
What a nice way to start my day. Thank you.
Thanks, Sharon! Great to see you here.
I want God to help me love, but sometimes it seems like there is nothing there. I guess that is when you just go through the motions of obedience huh? God always meets us eventually.
Hi Anwen! You’re absolutely right. I have to remind myself that love is an action, not a feeling. I once heard it said that if we don’t FEEL love, we should act like we love that person anyway. Then, God will work in us to make our feelings match our actions. As you said, it starts with obedience. 🙂 Thanks for your honest, wise words.