Priceless Woman MinistriesPriceless Woman Ministries
Julia M.
Faulkner
sunshine@pricelesswoman.com
http://www.pricelesswoman.com
Julia M. Faulkner
I John 2:6: "He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked." Wow! What a calling. To walk as Christ walked. How many can say that they even minutely measure up to this verse? I know that I don't even come close most times. But with the help of God and the Holy Spirit I at least have a chance.
The books of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd John are favorites of mine. So much talk of love! And without love where would we be? In darkness. I John 2:11: "But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes."
Jesus commanded believers love one another. John 15:12: "This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you."
Now, what does God and the Holy Spirit have to do with love and hate? I John 4:7: "Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God." If you truly have God dwelling within you, then you will also have His love. And if you have His love, then you will be able to love your brethren.
God made His love for us real (manifested) through His gift. That gift is His Son Jesus. I John 4:9: "In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him." And through this example, we see that we should make our love for our brethren real also. I John 3:17: "But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?"
God can teach you to love people! I Thessalonians 4:9: "But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another."
Now, had God not sent His son to die for us, then how could we be sure of His love for us? It would be difficult to see it. And that's why it is so very important for us to follow James 1:22: "But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves." and I John 3:18: "My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth." God could have told us all day long that He loved us, but He made that love real and tangible by sending His ONLY Son to us. What a sacrifice! And isn't that what love is all about? So now we must follow the example of Jesus, giving our lives in service to him and the brethren. I John:3:16: "Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren."
See how these two commandments go hand in hand? I John 3:23: "And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment." Over and over we see throughout God's word how we should believe on him (Jesus) and how we should love one another. We can love one another BECAUSE we believe on Jesus. How? I John 4:7: "Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God." I John 4:15-16: "Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him." Seeing then as how we ought to love one another, I would like to take some time and search for ways in God's word in which we can love and serve one another.
Matthew 20:25: "But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. 26: But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; 27: And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: 28: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many."
Even so, let us now walk as Christ walked. A servant who gave His life.
John 15:13 "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."
Amen.
The End
© 1996 by Julia M. Faulkner, Sonshine Publications