“Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.” 1 John 4:11-13
God’s love to us should lead to His love through us. He proved His love for us by giving His Son to die on the cross. We should prove our love for others by meeting their needs, regardless of what they’ve done or failed to do. God’s love for us is unconditional and our love for others should be the same.
Dr. Paul Chappell gives us some food for thought regarding this subject. He wrote:
Verse eleven tells us that we are to love one another. Christ does not give us a list of requirements someone must meet in order for us to love them. He does not command us to love only those who love us. He tells us to love one another. This means everyone.
No matter what someone has done to us, we should love them. God’s love for us does not depend on our love for Him; He loves us whether we obey Him or reject Him. Even so, we must not base our love for others on their love for us or their attitude toward us. We must love them as Christ loves us.
Romans 5:5 says, “And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” Of our own power, we would not be able to always show God’s love. Yet through the empowering of His Holy Spirit, we can even show love to those who mistreat us.
Not only does Christ desire for us to love others, but He desires for us to let His love flow through our lives. God is invisible, but we as His children are visible. While some may not read of God’s love in His Word or see His love on Calvary, they may see it through us as believers. The only way some people may see the love of Christ is through our lives.
The famous British preacher G. Campbell Morgan was once at lunch with his wife and his five sons who were also preachers. A friend asked them, “Who is the greatest preacher?” In unison the six men said, “Our mother.” Mrs. Morgan’s life affected others more than any sermon her husband and sons had preached.
Because we are Christians, people will watch us. They will watch how we live and what we let affect our lives. Many times they will judge Christianity based on our lives. How would someone judge Christianity based on your life? Are you letting Christ’s love flow through you? Or will someone never see the love of Christ because of your life? Ask Christ to give you the strength to love those around you, and let His love flow through you today.
