Our world has been rocked by the senseless killing of a man in Minneapolis. Accused of a very minor crime which may not even have been true, he was handcuffed on the ground and died needlessly as the result of someone placing their knee on his neck until he died. No love was shown, just a brutal form of human injustice.
Many times in our study of 1 John we see the importance of loving the people in our world. God so loves the whole world, not just one people, not just one nation, not just individuals but the whole world. Not everyone responds to this great big love but that is not our responsibility.
Read 1 John 3:11-24 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+john+3%3A11-24&version=NIVUK
What stands out to us is the bold statement “We should love one another“. The writer tells us not to be like Cain the firstborn son of Adam and Eve who killed his brother Abel because his actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous. Evil had already entered the world when Adam and Eve disobeyed the Lord God in the garden.
Ever since that time the story of Cain and Abel has been repeated in many different ways but for similar reasons.
Loving others who love God is a sign that we have passed from death to life and we are born of God. Family loves family.
We might say, well I would never kill anyone, how awful! But God says if we only hate someone, a brother or sister in God’s family, we are a murderer and we do not have the eternal life offered freely by God.
In verse 16 we see that God showed what love is : Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. Why? He was there on the cruel cross at Golgotha because of love. He laid down his life in your place and my place to bear the awful burden of all mankind’s sin. What a gift! What a love!
Now God turns to us and effectively says “you do this, you lay down your lives for others”, with deeds such as giving to those who need something you can provide. God requires praise but he doesn’t want empty words from our lips, but heartfelt and sincere actions.
The Lord God sets our hearts at rest, we have confidence in his presence, as we rest in him and do what pleases him, loving his family members by our actions.
God relates to us by meaningful words, promises, warnings and commands. The most important command for us is given in verse 23 ‘believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ’ Without obeying that command all our nice speeches and works are of zero value to God. When we do believe, God’s peace overcomes our soul and we enter into his rest, a peace that passes all understanding.
Have you believed in the name of God’s Son, Jesus Christ? If not, will you choose right now, to take not just one knee but both knees to humble yourself before God Almighty who made you and confess that Jesus is Lord?
If you are already a follower of Jesus Christ, in what ways are you showing love to others in a way that pleases God?
May God bless you immeasurably as you seek him, experience his great love and pay it forward.