1 João 4
William MacDonald · Citado em PreceptAustin
1 João 4:2
William MacDonald - It is not so much the confession of the historical fact, namely that Jesus was born into the world in a human body, but rather it is the confession of a living Person, Jesus Christ come in the flesh. It is the confession that acknowledges Jesus as the Christ Incarnate. And confessing Him means bowing to Him as Lord of one’s life. Now if you ever hear a person presenting the Lord Jesus as the true Christ of God, you will know that he is speaking by the Spirit of God. The Spirit of God calls on men to acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord and to commit their lives to Him (1Cor 12:3) The Holy Spirit always glorifies Jesus. (Borrow Believer's Bible Commentary) (Bold italics added) THOUGHT - One wonders if modern church leaders ever apply this test to those that are teaching under them? I have been a teacher for 40 years and no one has ever specifically given me this test. I once attended a Bible church where I was suspicious of the teachings of a seminary trained man and shortly after I begin attending his class (one that he knew I would not normally attend), he moved on within a few weeks to another local church! I did not even have to directly test him! There must be a commitment of the life to this truth. This is what the word confess means here It is more than a mere acknowledgment or a profession that this is true; it is a commitment. Ray
1 João 4:2
William MacDonald - Years ago almost every home had a large family album in the living room. It had a stuffed leather cover embossed in gold. A leather strap with clasp extended from the right edge of the back cover over to the right side of the top cover where the clasp latched securely into its socket. The pages were of stiff, glossy paper-board, ornamented with floral patterns and gilt edges. On each side of a page were cut-out sections where photographs were inserted. When visitors looked through the album, they would often remark that “Josh looks just like his grandpa” or that “Sarah surely has the family likeness.” John’s first epistle reminds me of that old family album because it pictures those who are members of God’s family and who have the family likeness. However, here it is a matter of spiritual and moral resemblance rather than physical. There are at least eight ways in which Christians are spiritual “look-alikes.” The first is that they all say the same tiling about Jesus. They confess that He is the Christ, that is, the Messiah or Anointed One (1 Jn. 4:2; 5:1). To them Jesus and Christ are one and the same Person. All Christians love God (1Jn 5:2). Even though that love may often be weak and vacillating, there is never a time when a believer cannot look up into the face of God and say, “You know that I love You.” All Christians love the brethren (1Jn 2:10; 3:10, 14; 4:7, 12). This is the hallmark of all who have passed from death to life. Because they love God, they love those who are born of God. Those who love God characteristically keep His commandments (1Jn 3:24). Their obedience is motivated, not by fear of punishment, but by love to Him who gave His all. Christians do not practice sin (1Jn 3:6, 9; 5:18). True, they commit acts of sin, but sin is not the dominating power in their lives. They are not sinless but they do sin less. Members of God’s family practice righteousness (1Jn 2:29; 3:7). It is not just that they do not habitually sin—that could be negative and passive. They reach out to others with deeds of righteousness—that is positive and active. The seventh characteristic of members of God’s family is that they do not love the world (1Jn 2:15). They realize that the world is a system that man has built up in opposition to God, and that to be a friend of the world is to be an enemy of God. Finally Christians overcome the world by faith (1Jn 5:4). They see beyond the sham of passing things to those things that are eternal. They live for the things that are not seen. Chris Tiegreen - 1 JOHN 4:2 - The One Year Hearing His Voice Devotional In the apostle John’s day, the most dangerous falsehoods about Jesus centered on whether He was actually human or not. Some teachers claimed He was a spirit who only seemed to have a body; that He had not actually come in the flesh. Therefore, He did not live a human life or die a human death. Whoever suggests such a thing, said John, is speaking from an anti-Christ spirit. This was not the only heresy to infect the church throughout its history. Many other anti-Christ claims have been taught and practiced. The most serious ones erode our faith’s essential foundations: the nature of Jesus (both God and man); the nature of salvation (by grace through faith); or the nature of Scripture (fully reliable and inspired by God). Any voice that undermines one of these important tenets is not from God because it contradicts eternal truth that God has already revealed, and God cannot contradict Himself. He can give different people different instructions, of course —He adapts His methods for specific situations —but He does not change His mind about the nature of His person or His plan. His character and purposes are constant. That’s a key for discerning God’s voice. His words will always honor His own character, the divinity of Jesus, the nature of salvation, and the integrity of His written Word. He will not speak blatant contradictions to us, nor will He aim at confusing us. We may encounter mysteries and have to sort them out over time, but we won’t hear glaring inconsistencies. God’s words are always true to who He is. (See The One Year Hearing His Voice Devotional Page 122) J.
1 João 4:3
William MacDonald - There are many today who are willing to say acceptable things about Jesus, but they will not confess Him as God Incarnate. They will say that Christ is “divine,” but not that He is God. (Borrow Believer's Bible Commentary) Max Anders adds "This is not the only test a teacher must pass. An eloquent teacher of God’s Word might agree to the divinity and humanity of Jesus, but have other things so out of bounds in his theology that he still might qualify as a false prophet. Jesus himself said that not everyone who called him “Lord” would enter the kingdom." (Mt 7:21+) (See Holman New Testament Commentary) Gary Derickson writes that "Mormons can say that Jesus came in the flesh, as can Jehovah’s Witnesses. That does not make them orthodox. They fail other tests, primarily those involving the question of Jesus’ deity and eternality. Here John is better understood as giving a sample test rather than limiting this to this single test, though this is an example of how to test the claims and denials of teachers." This test involves discerning, not just what is said but what is not said. Of note is John’s affirmation that they simply “do not confess” Jesus as having come in the flesh. He does not say they deny it. “Heretical teaching can mask the full extent of its deviation from the truth by simply failing to affirm some pivotal biblical truth” (Hodges, 178). (1, 2 & 3 John: Evangelical Exegetical Commentary ) Westcott on confess Jesus - The substance of the confession which has been given in detail in the former verse is gathered up in the single human name of the Lord. To ‘confess Jesus,’ which in the connection can only mean to confess ‘Jesus as Lord’ (1Cor 12:3, Ro. 10:9), is to recognize divine sovereignty in One Who is truly man, or, in other words, to recognize the union of the divine and human in one Person, a truth which finds its only adequate expression in the fact of the Incarnation… It is of interest to notice the two negative signs which St John gives of ‘not being of God.’ In 1Jn 3:10 he writes "anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God." In the case of men the proof of the absence of the divine connection is found in the want of active righteousness: in the case of spirits in the failure to confess the Incarnation. The two tests exactly correspond to one another in the two spheres to which they severally belong. The confession of the Incarnation embodied in life must produce the effort after righteousness which finds its absolute spiritual support in the belief in the Incarnation. (1 John 4 Commentary) THE SPIRIT OF ANTICHRIST Related Passages: Earlier John wrote "Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming (Ed: Referring to the Final world ruler, "The Antichrist"), even now many antichrists have arisen; from this we know that it is the last hour." (1Jn 2:18+) And remember that these men had identified themselves with the believers before they went out of their midst in 1Jn 2:19+. 2 John 1:7+ For (a term of explanation which forces us to examine the context = 2Jn 1:6) many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ [as] coming in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist." And this is the spirit of the antichrist (antichristos, NLT capitalizes Antichrist), of which you have heard (akouo - perfect tense) that it is coming (erchomai - present tense), and now it is (present tense) already in the world (kosmos) - The one who does not confess Jesus manifests the spirit of the antichrist (antichristos). HCSB renders it "you have heard he is coming." In context, the (definite article identifies the specific) antichrist refers to the final anti-god world ruler who is known by many names (beast, little horn, man of lawlessness, etc). John's emphasis however is on the spirit of this final Antichrist, the spirit of these men's teachings exhibiting an anti-christ character. These teachings will come to full fruition when the final Antichrist is revealed at the end of this present evil age. The readers had been warned that this antichrist spirit would come into the world and in fact was already present in the world, as evidenced by the men who did not confess Jesus. Failure to confess Jesus was evidence that these men opposed Christ, even as would the final Antichrist. Every teacher belongs in one of the two categories: true prophet of the Word or Antichrist. -- Max Anders John MacArthur on the spirit of the antichrist - The same demonic deception that will work to produce the final world ruler (see notes on Rev 13:1–8) who rules as the false Christ is always actively seeking to distort Jesus Christ’s true nature, perverting the gospel. The final Antichrist will not be something new, but will be the ultimate embodiment of all the antichrist spirits that have perverted truth and propagated satanic lies since the beginning. (See MacArthur Study Bible - Page 1941) David
1 João 4:8
William MacDonald - “God is love.” 1 John 4:8 The coming of Christ brought a new word for love into the Greek language—agape. There was already a word for friendship (philia) and one for passionate love (eros), but there was none to express the kind of love which God showed in giving His only begotten Son and which He calls on His people to show to one another. This is another-worldly love, a love with new dimensions. The love of God had no beginning and it can have no end. It is a love that has no limit, that can never be measured. It is absolutely pure, free from all taint of lust. It is sacrificial, never counting the cost. Love manifests itself in giving, for we read, “God so loved the world that He gave…” and “Christ also hath loved us, and hath given Himself for us…” Love ceaselessly seeks the welfare of others. It goes out to the unlovely as well as to the lovely. It goes out to its enemies as well as to its friends. It is not drawn out by any worthiness or virtue in its objects but only by the goodness of the donor. It is utterly unselfish, never looking for anything in return and never exploiting others for personal advantages. It does not keep a count of wrongs, but throws a kindly veil over a multitude of slights and insults. Love repays every discourtesy with a kindness, and prays for its would-be murderers. Love always thinks of others, esteeming them better than self. But love can be firm. God chastens those whom He loves. Love cannot countenance sin because sin is harmful and destructive, and love desires to protect its objects from harm and destruction. The greatest manifestation of God’s love was the giving of His beloved Son to die for us on the Cross of Calvary. Who Thy love, O God, can measure, Love that crushed for us its Treasure, Him in whom was all Thy pleasure, Christ, Thy Son of love? (Allaben) GOD IS LOVE God is love. 1 John 4:8 God doesn’t just have love, He is love. And what He is, He does. God loves you, and God loves me. Because He loved us first, we love Him. Grow Your Faith Sometimes people are so identified with a quality or activity that they come to represent it. Like saying, “This one teacher wasn’t just a good part of that school for me, she was that school for me.” God is love, so what’s one way you can express that love to someone today? Grow Your Child’s Faith God is love. That means everything He does is loving. If someone is mean to Him, His answer is love. If someone is lonely, His answer is love. If someone makes a terrible choice, His answer is love. If you ever worry you’ve made God mad, remember He is love, and His answer to you is always going to come from what He is. Dear Father, the idea that You are love is the most amazing and important thing I have ever learned. Show me how to live like I know You are love. Amen. GOD’S RICH LOVE WHOEVER DOES NOT LOVE DOES NOT KNOW GOD, BECAUSE GOD IS LOVE.—1 John 4:8 You couldn’t have asked for a better place to live or for a more perfect spouse. In fact, in this place, intimacy with others and God was deep and pleasurable. It was Eden. A garden where God’s best was provided for the lives of Adam and Eve. Yet, even there, sin and selfishness rose to interrupt the experience. In the midst of a loss of intimacy and the arrival of aloneness, it is significant to note that God took the initiative toward Adam and Eve and walked back into the Garden of Eden after the Fall. If we didn’t know the story and tried to imagine what might happen next, we might have imagined God’s exercising a host of options. He could have annihilated everything and started over again. He could have ignored Adam and Eve and let them live with the consequences of rejecting Him, allowing their new scheme of existence to run its degenerative course. Or He could do the unexpected. He could restore the relationship they had so carelessly given up. He could call them back to Himself and to a consistent moral order that would again make possible intimacy with Him and the development of trusted relationships. And that is just what He did. It is all the more surprising when we realize that God is the only entity in the universe that can be alone and still be fully satisfied and sustained. It may come as a blow to us that God does not need us! But the beauty of it is that, though He can go for eternity without us, He chooses to love us and care for us, which makes His love and concern for us richer still. He doesn’t love us for what it will do for Him. Too many of us have been wounded by that kind of love. He loves us because He is love itself and because He created us for the pleasure of our fellowship and the ultimate glory of His name. It was that kind of love and compassion that drove Him to seek to reconnect Adam and Eve to Himself. He offers the same privilege to us today. Have you accepted God’s invitation to intimate fellowship? More Than Luv Love should cast out terror, but not awe. True love must include awe. This is one of the great truths about sex and marriage that our age has tragically forgotten.... God is love. But love is not love. Love is a fire, storm, earthquake, volcano, lightning and hurricane. Love banged out the Big Bang and endured the hell of the cross. ... Next time you hear "All you need is luv," think of the captain of the Titanic singing it to his passengers. As for me, I'd rather have a lifeboat. James Smith - THE HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF LOVE 1 John 4:8, 9, 17; 2:5 I. The Essence of His Love—God Himself—“God is Love” (4:8). II. The Cause of His Love—not in us. “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us” (4:10). III. The Activity of His Love—Sending His Son to die for us (4:8, 9). IV. The Manner of His Love. The outcome of that love is our adoption as children (3:1, 2). V. The Perfecting of His Love. That is, the increasing discovery on our part of the assurance and perfection of His love. This gives us boldness (4:17). VI. The Maturing of His Love. That is, what we must do in order to liberate the love of God shed abroad in our hearts and lives in holy action (2:5). LOVE 1 John 4:7–9, 11 I. Love’s Home. 1. “Love is of God” (4:7). 2. Love is God, or better: “God is Love” (4:8). II. Love’s Apprehension. “We have known and believed the love” (4:16). Knowledge following faith. III. Love’s Manifestation. The proof of God’s love was the sending of His Son (4:9). IV. Love’s Overflowing. Leads us to love one another (4:7, 11). Surely 4:7 teaches that there is no Divine love in the heart of any unregenerate person. Divine love is a far higher thing than mere natural affection. Who can measure the depths of this love in allowing His "Only Beloved" to be identified with human sin and guilt (John 3:16). John
1 João 4:10
William MacDonald - Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” (1 John 4:10) Love is that quality in God which causes Him to lavish unbounded affection on others. His love is manifest in giving good and perfect gifts to the beloved. We can give only a few of the myriad of verses that speak of that love! “I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee” (Jer. 31:3). “God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8). “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us…” (Eph. 2:4). And, of course, the best known of all, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whososoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). When John says “God is love” (1 John 4:8), he is not defining God, but insisting that love is a key element in the divine nature. We do not worship love, but the God of love. His love had no beginning and can have no end. It is limitless in its dimensions. It is absolutely pure, without taint of selfishness or any other sin. It is sacrificial, never minding the cost. It seeks only the welfare of others, and nothing in return. It goes out to the unlovely as well as to the lovely, to enemies as well as to friends. It is not drawn out by any virtues in its objects, but only by the goodness of the Giver. The practical implications of this sublime truth are obvious. “Therefore be imitators of God,” said Paul, “as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself for us” (Eph. 5:1,2a, NASB). Our love should ascend to the Lord, should flow out to our brethren, and should extend to the unsaved world. Contemplation of His love should also inspire deepest worship. As we fall at His feet, we must say repeatedly: How Thou canst love me as Thou dost And be the God Thou art Is darkness to my intellect But sunshine to my heart. READ: 1 John 4:7-19 FOR me to understand the depth of God's love is impossible. Either pride or fear always gets in the way. At times when pride has attained a position of power in my life, I think that I have earned the love I receive. Pride tells me that I am loved because I am lovable, respectable, and worthy. But at other times fear sets in and reminds me that I don't deserve any of the love I get. My motives are never pure, and I fear rejection if they are exposed. So even while I am enjoying acceptance, I live with the fear of being unmasked, of having others find out that I am much less than they think I am. In my relationship with God, I often think that His affection for me is based on my performance. When I do well, He loves me; but if I foul up, I have reason to expect His scorn. Thank You, Lord, for setting the example of love. Your willingness to love me even though You know the full extent of my depraved nature is both reassuring and inspiring. It is reassuring because I can never surprise You with my sin; it is inspiring because I can learn from You how to love people like me who are not perfect. May I learn to love in a way that shows the world Your idea of the way things ought to be. Love: The Heart of God Revealed (AI Generated Sermon Outline) Bible Passage: 1 John 4:10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Summary: 1 John 4:10 reveals the nature of God’s love, emphasizing that true love is rooted in God's initiative and sacrificial offering. It highlights that we love because He first loved us, showcasing the defining moment of our relationship with Him. Application: This passage encourages Christians to reflect on the depth of God's love and how it should transform their own lives and relationships. It challenges them to love others sacrificially, fostering unity and compassion in their communities even amidst struggles. Teaching: This sermon can teach that God's love is not just a feeling but an action, demonstrated supremely through Jesus Christ. It emphasizes that understanding God’s love leads to a radical redefinition of how we interact with others, pushing us towards selfless love. How this passage could point to Christ: The passage points to Christ as the ultimate embodiment of God’s love; His sacrifice on the cross serves as the highest expression of love that believers are called to emulate. It integrates into the overarching biblical narrative of redemption through love. Big Idea: The big idea is that the understanding of God's unconditional love calls us to live out that love in practical ways, transforming our hearts and communities in the process. Recommended Study: As you prepare this sermon, consider utilizing your Logos library to explore the historical context of 1 John and its themes of love and fellowship. Look into commentaries that discuss the Greek terms used in this passage, particularly 'agape', to deepen your understanding of its depth. Examine other Scriptural cross-references that illustrate God's love, such as Romans 5:8 and John 3:16 .1. Initiating Love's Journey 1 John 4:10a You could focus on the initiative of God's love—He loved us first, demonstrating that love starts with God. By highlighting that true love begins with God's initiative, you can encourage believers to reflect on their relationships, understanding that loving others selflessly begins with recognizing and accepting God's love for us. 2. Sacrificial Sending 1 John 4:10b Perhaps discuss the sacrificial nature of God's love demonstrated by sending His Son as an atoning sacrifice. This point can lead to a reflection on how our love should also be sacrificial and self-giving, pointing to Jesus' ultimate sacrifice as our example in all relationships and actions. 3. Responding with Reciprocity 1 John 4:10c Maybe explore how God’s love calls us to a response, emphasizing that His love propels us to love others. This can transform how we view love—beyond feelings to active responses that mirror Jesus’ life. Encourage the community to let this love flow through them to others, especially in times of conflict or hardship. The Ultimate Expression of Love (AI Generated Sermon Outline) Bible Passage: 1 John 4:10 Summary: 1 John 4:10 fundamentally states that God's love is not just a sentiment but a powerful decision and action—He showed His love by sending Jesus as a sacrifice for our sins. This encapsulates the Christian understanding of love as a choice that leads to action, rather than mere emotion, thus redefining what it means to love others in a godly way. Application: Believers can apply this understanding of God's love in their daily interactions, promoting love that is sacrificial and unconditional. It challenges individuals to actively demonstrate love, especially when it is difficult, fostering a culture of grace and truth in their communities. Teaching: The sermon could teach that Christian love must be rooted in the comprehension of God's initiative and sacrificial action. This understanding moves the audience from a passive reception of love to an active expression of love, shaping their relationships and conduct in profound ways. How this passage could point to Christ: God's love revealed in Christ through this passage serves as the fulfillment of prophetic love throughout the Bible. It reflects the culmination of God’s redemptive story and the essence of Christ’s mission—demonstrating love through sacrifice and redemption, which are recurring themes within the biblical narrative. Big Idea: The big idea presented is that true love, modeled after God’s love, requires active engagement and sacrifice, compelling us to live out our faith by loving others radically, reflecting the heart of God within a world desperate for authentic love and connection. Recommended Study: As you prepare, consider using your Logos library to examine the theological implications of God's love described in 1 John 4:10, particularly focusing on the concept of propitiation and its significance in the life of a believer. Look into relevant Greek texts discussing love in the New Testament to understand how John differentiates between divine love and human expressions of love. Furthermore, consider comparative studies with Old Testament love expressions to broaden the understanding of God's continuity in love throughout scripture. 1. Divine Love Demonstrated You could begin by exploring 1 John 4:10, emphasizing how this passage reveals the ultimate expression of God's love through the sending of His Son as a propitiation for our sins. This act demonstrates a love that is both intentional and sacrificial, serving as the model and motivation for our love towards others. By internalizing this truth, your audience might be inspired to practice love that reflects God’s grace and willingness to go beyond mere sentiment to actual deeds. This sermon point challenges listeners to view love as an active response to God's love. The Depth of Divine Love (AI Generated Sermon Outline) Bible Passage: 1 John 4:10 Summary: 1 John 4:10 presents a profound theological truth that God’s love is not only a feeling but a deliberate action, as evidenced by the sending of His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. This illustrates that love involves sacrifice and is foundational to our understanding of how we relate to God and others, signifying a transformative power in our lives. Application: This passage offers practical encouragement for believers to embody God's love in their daily lives, particularly in how they forgive and show grace to others. It challenges them to move beyond superficial interactions and to engage in deep, sacrificial relationships that reflect Christ’s love. Teaching: The sermon can teach that God's love is actionable and sacrificial, serving as a model for how Christians are called to love one another and the world. This challenges the audience to evaluate their own expressions of love and align them more closely with Christ's example. How this passage could point to Christ: This passage highlights Christ’s role as the perfect demonstration of God’s love, linking to themes throughout the Bible where sacrifice and redemption are central. His atoning death on the cross stands as the fulfillment of God’s love towards humanity, illustrating a consistent biblical narrative of love's redemptive power. Big Idea: The big idea communicated is that understanding and embracing God's sacrificial love compels Christians to reflect that love in their interactions, fostering a community that embodies grace, forgiveness, and service to others. Recommended Study: For a deeper grasp on this passage, I suggest exploring commentaries within your Logos library that unpack the concept of propitiation in the New Testament, especially as it contrasts with Old Testament sacrificial systems. Investigate the various terms used for love in Greek to understand the nuances that John is presenting. Additionally, consider the implications of God's love in the wider narrative of scripture, particularly in relation to how it motivates Christian ethics and community living. 1. Profound Action of Love You could explore the profound action of God's love sending His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Perhaps emphasize that this love is not merely an emotion but a costly act of grace. Encourage the congregation to consider the depth of such love and its implications for our lives. Highlight the transformative power of embodying Christlike love, and remind them that through Christ, love moves beyond words into sacrificial, redemptive action. As recipients of this love, we are called to extend it to others, forgiving and serving as Christ did. Where Love Comes From - I have loved you with an everlasting love; … with lovingkindness I have drawn you. —Jeremiah 31:3 - What happened between my husband and a dog named Maggie was not love at first sight. In fact, their first meeting was more like a war dance. When Jay came home from work, Maggie stopped him at the back door and growled at him as if he were an intruder. Then Jay growled, wanting to know why a strange dog was in his home. I explained why I rescued her from the kennel, but he was unmoved. But soon Maggie began welcoming Jay home in the evening with a wildly excited dance routine. With all 20 toenails tapping on the tile she would wag her tail and wiggle to tell him that his arrival was the highlight of her day. Within a week, her enthusiastic welcome had won his heart. Maggie’s method of winning Jay’s affection reminded me of what the prophet Jeremiah and the apostle John wrote. God’s love for us, they said, draws us into a loving relationship with Him (Jeremiah 31:3; 1John 4:7-8,19). Loved with everlasting love, Led by grace that love to know— Spirit, breathing from above, Thou hast taught me it is so! —Robinson We love because God first loved us.
1 João 4:11
William MacDonald - Truths to Live By “Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.” (1 John 4:11). We must not think of love as an uncontrollable, unpredictable emotion. We are commanded to love, and this would be quite impossible if love were some elusive, sporadic sensation, coming as unaccountably as a common cold. Love does involve the emotions but it is more a matter of the will than of the emotions. We must also guard against the notion that love is confined to a world of dream castles with little relation to the nitty-gritty of everyday life. For every hour of moonlight and roses, there are weeks of mops and dirty dishes. In other words, love is intensely practical. For instance, when a plate of bananas is passed at the table and one has black spots, love takes that one. Love cleans the washbasin and bathtub after using them. Love replaces paper towels when the supply is gone so that the next person will not be inconvenienced. Love puts out the lights when they are not in use. It picks up the crumpled Kleenex instead of walking over it. It replaces the gas and oil after using a borrowed car. Love empties the garbage without being asked. It doesn’t keep people waiting. It serves others before self. It takes a squalling baby out so as not to disturb the meeting. Love speaks loudly so that the deaf can hear. And love works in order to have the means to share with others. Love has a hem to its garment That reaches right down to the dust— It can reach the stains of the streets and lanes, And because it can, it must. It dare not rest on the mountain; It must go down to the vale; For it cannot find its fulness of mind Till it kindles the lives that fail. What Type Are You? Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. —1 John 4:11 There are two types of people in the world,” someone once said, “those who come into a room and say, ‘Here I am!’ and those who come in and say, ‘Ah, there you are!'” How different are those two approaches! One says, “Look at me! I need attention”; the other says, “Tell me about yourself.” One says, “I’m important”; the other says, “You are important.” One says, “The world revolves around me”; the other says, “I’m here to serve you.” Wouldn’t it be great to be known as that second kind of person—someone others love to have around? Someone who displays the love of Christ openly and unashamedly? The New Testament gives us some practical suggestions about becoming the kind of person who demonstrates Christ’s love. We are told to give preference to one another (Romans 12:10), edify one another (Romans 14:19), care for one another (1 Corinthians 12:25), serve one another (Galatians 5:13), bear one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2), forgive one another (Colossians 3:13), comfort one another (1 Thessalonians 5:11), and pray for one another (James 5:16). Lord, teach us the secret of loving, The love You are asking today; Then help us to love one another; For this we most earnestly pray. —Anon. People with a heart for God have a heart for people. Charles Swindoll - Ihave never met a person who didn’t have a reason to blame someone else. Every one of us can blame somebody for something that has happened in our lives. But don’t waste your time. What we need most is a steady stream of love flowing among us. Love that quickly forgives and willingly overlooks and refuses to take offense. (1 John 4:11) THE GREAT COVER-UP - See NIV, Once-A-Day: Worship and Praise Devotional: 365 Days Whoever would foster love covers over an offense, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends. PROVERBS 17:9 Close your eyes for a moment and remember the first secret you shared that someone didn’t keep. Was it a whisper in third grade of a love unrequited? An embarrassing revelation made to a parent that was then broadcast to the family? Perhaps as an adult you bared your soul to your best friend, only to have your kindred spirit involve others in your most intimate struggle. Chances are you remember a moment of betrayal from your past; and even now, there’s a tender spot in your heart that’s strangely sore from the memory. Knowing this, it’s even harder to admit that we ourselves have inflicted such pain on others. That is why Solomon took time to remind us that “cover[ing] over an offense” is a way to show love. We should be willing to overlook the faults of another because, after all, isn’t that what our God does for us? “He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever … for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust” (Psalm 103:9,14). How thankful we are that this all-powerful Savior, full of tenderness and compassion, doesn’t do to us what we deserve! Because we are made in his image, we are called to offer the ultimate form of worship: To be and act like him. “Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another” (1 John 4:11). As an act of worship today, look for opportunities where you can disregard another person’s offense and preserve love. PRAYER Lord, help me to revel in your mercy and love Daily Light on the Daily Path - Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.—For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.—Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him.—In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace.—So that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 1 John 4:7; Rom. 5:5; Rom. 8:15–16; 1 John 5:10; 1 John 4:9; Eph. 1:7; Eph. 2:7; 1 John 4:11 A BREATHING SPACE - The Christian History Devotional: 365 Readings Since God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.1 JOHN 4:11 1555: Consider this rule: wherever you live, you have to adhere to the religion of the head of your government. That is exactly the principle that was worked out on this day in history. Some background is helpful: in the 1500s the Protestant Reformation split Europe into warring camps. In the middle of Europe was the sprawling Holy Roman Empire, made up of several nations ruled by kings, dukes, or bishops. Over them all ruled Emperor Charles V, a staunch Catholic who regarded the Protestants as heretics. In theory, Charles controlled the whole empire—but in practice, the various rulers under him had a lot of independence, and some of those rulers turned Protestant and at times made war against the Catholic emperor. The king of France who was Catholic was happy to aid the Protestants in order to hurt Charles, his great rival. Adding to the muddle was the threat of a Muslim invasion on the empire’s eastern border. Charles wore himself out fighting off enemies on his borders and “heretics” in his empire. On September 25, 1555, a truce was reached, called the Peace of Augsburg after the German city where it was signed. The various rulers in the empire agreed to the principle of cujus regio, ejus religio—Latin that roughly translates as “the ruler’s religion is the religion of his nation.” So since the ruler of Saxony was a Lutheran, the people of Saxony had to be Lutheran—or sell their property and move to another country. The ruler of Bavaria was Catholic, so Bavarians had to be Catholic—or move. A few large cities allowed both Catholics and Lutherans to worship. Except for Lutherans, no Protestants were to be tolerated in the empire. It sounds like a bizarre agreement, and certainly it was not good news to Protestants who were not Lutheran. But it did end a long period of pointless bloodshed, and for a spell there were fewer Christians killing Christians. Prayer: Lord, give us peace inside and the will to work for peace outside. Amen. Warren
1 João 4:19
William MacDonald - The only reason we love at all is because He first loved us. The Ten Commandments require that a man should love his God and neighbor, but the law could not produce this love. How then could God obtain this love which His righteousness required? He solved the problem by sending His Son to die for us. Such wonderful love draws out our hearts to Him in return. We say, “You have bled and died for me; from now on I will live for You.” (Borrow Believer's Bible Commentary) A Christian ought to become what God is, and “God is love.” To argue otherwise is to prove that one does not really know God! Warren
1 João 4:20
William MacDonald - John emphasizes the futility of professing to love God while at the same time hating one’s brother. As spokes get nearer to the center of the wheel, so they get nearer to one another. Thus, as we get closer to the Lord, the more we will love our fellow believers. Actually, we do not love the Lord a bit more than we love the humblest of His followers. (Borrow Believer's Bible Commentary) The perfect love that drives out fear, drives out hatred also John Stott - Love for God expresses itself not only in a confident attitude towards Him, devoid of fear, but in a loving concern for our brothers and sisters (cf. 1Jn 3:14+). The perfect love that drives out fear, drives out hatred also. If God’s love for us is made complete when we love one another (1Jn 4:12), so is our love for God. John does not mince his words. If how a person behaves contradicts what he says, he is a liar. These are the three black lies of the letter: moral, doctrinal and social. To claim to know God and have fellowship with God while we walk in the darkness of disobedience is to lie (1Jn 1:6+; 1Jn 2:4+). To claim to possess the Father while denying the deity of the Son is to lie (1Jn 2:22–23+). To claim to love God while hating our brothers is also to lie. These are the three black lies of the letter: moral, doctrinal and social. We may insist that we are Christian, but habitual sin, denial of Christ or selfish hatred would expose us as liars. Only holiness (ED: cf Heb 12:14+), faith and love can prove the truth of our claim to know, possess and love God. (Borrow The Letters of John) Marvin