02/12/2025
It’s obedience and it’s LOVE.
The early Christians, who would first read John’s letter, would have known a lot about the law (which John is not discounting); but he is trying to help them see fellowship with God requires not only obedience but love.
John is explaining to believers that he is not writing a new commandment —the Word has been there since the beginning. (See 1 John 2:7-8)
But in a sense, it is new in that the Word became flesh. A light had shone in the darkness.
John had explained this in his gospel account- “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life,an and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (John 1:1-5)
And this light,
this true light,
is love.
John has talked about obedience and now he explains that one cannot claim fellowship with God and not love his brother.
“He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.” (1 John 2:9-11)
As Christians, as Christ-followers, we absolutely are called to love our fellow believers (our brothers).
If we do not, we are not being obedient to God and our fellowship is broken.
The Apostle Paul urged believers to live a life that is characterized by an increasing love for others, a steady, quiet calm, and hard work. (I Thess 4:9-12).
There is so much to unpack in these few sentences.
We are to love others, all others, because Jesus did, with an increasing love.
And that one, hit me hard. (Like right between the eyes, hard!)
The older I’ve become, the more I look at the crazy world, the more I see others calling wrong things right, the more I find myself wanting to pull away and only love a few that I consider “safe”.
I’ve joked with a few close friends and family that I’d like to start a commune. (Except, I was not totally joking, because I kind of really would like to pull away... with a few I trust and like.)
Loving others is messy and hard. Speaking truth may offend others, and they will often let you know they are offended.🤨
The thing is, I don’t really want to keep putting my heart out there to be trampled by those who may misunderstand, criticize, and hurt me.
I feel the urge to make my circle smaller, not larger. Anyone else?
But, this attitude is simply not godly.
God so loved the world that He gave!(John 3:16) He didn’t hold back! As I truly think on that, I’m raising my hands THANKFUL that God didn’t hold back!
He loved us first... He didn’t require us to love Him, or think biblically right on everything before He loved us! (1John 4:19) He loved our unlovely selves long before we ever gave Him a thought! (Rom 5:8) While we were still His enemies in fact! (Rom 5:10).
I bet, like me, you can think of a few folks that seem like enemies to you. How about the ones that seem like they are lost causes? How are we doing at loving them?
It’s hard.
I get that.
I feel that.
But Jesus suffered LONG with us! (2 Pet 3:9) He forgave and still forgives us over and over! (Lam 3:22-23)
And when I look to Jesus, I’ve got absolutely no excuse, but to love others because He loves me.
All of them.
We can’t pick and choose.
Whomever, God places in our path, is someone to love and show the love of Christ.
We don’t have to agree with them on everything, or call wrong things right, but we are to show the love of Christ to them.
It doesn’t matter how messed up we think others are, the truth is, Jesus loved our messed up selves; and we are to love others because He loved us.(Matt 22:37-39)
Period. ❤️
So, no commune for me! 😉
kimjaggers.com
Note - this is a continuation of my study of 1 John. Go to this page on Facebook or kimjaggers.com to see other posts on this wonderful book of the Bible. You can also sign up for a daily email of these posts there from my blog.
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