Loving God Means Loving His Children
Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
1 John 5:1-3
The Greek word translated love in the New Testament is agape. That, with its verb form, is used more than two hundred and fifty times. It conveys affection, benevolence, and good will. It’s often called the God-kind of love. That’s how God loves us. We should receive His love, and bestow it upon others, including God Himself.
Those who are born of God believe that Jesus is the Christ (Messiah, Anointed One). That’s a born-again Christian. And, everyone who loves God, who made them born-again, also loves other born-again Christians. That’s what this passage is saying. Whoever loves the Father also loves His children.
The love that you have for God’s children reflects the love that you have for God. People will say they love God, but they treat God’s people shabbily. Sadly, Christians are notorious for killing their wounded. If a well-known Christian stumbles or falls, many of God’s very own people degrade, debase, and humiliate them to others. That’s not love. It’s not love towards the person, and it’s not love towards God.
We know we love God’s children (preachers and others in esteemed positions are His children too), when we love God and keep His commandments. His commandment is to pray for them. He tells us to restore them with a spirit of gentleness and humility. This is love, and it fulfills the law of Christ (Galatians 6:1-2).
The greatest commandment is to love God; and the second, is to love our neighbors. They are so interrelated and connected, that it’s a lie to claim to love God and yet not love His children (1 John 4:20-21). You can’t love God without loving His children. That love for God and His children will be seen in what you do regarding God’s Word.
Last week we looked at Joseph. His response to being sold into slavery and unjustly imprisoned showed his love for God. He treated others, including his captors, well. His actions were various facets of love; love for God and, in turn, love for others. Other Old Testament saints showed this same love. Their obedience to God was proof of their love. Real love of (and for) God is keeping His commandments.
We should receive God’s love, and we should also love Him in return. Our willingness and obedience to Him is a measurement of our love to Him. This love can also be termed as the fear of the Lord. Join us this week as we look at the fear of the Lord.