Young People's Group

BELOVED, LET US LOVE ONE ANOTHER

February 23, 2014

The Practice Of Loving One Another

Loving one another in Christ should never be just a topic that we merely discuss and understand. It should be a markedly significant practice in our life and ministry. This was what the Apostle John was challenging his brethren to do.

“Beloved, let us love one another” 
1 John 4:7

John remembered that this was a commandment from the Lord Jesus Christ Himself (John 15:12). They were to love another as their Saviour had loved them. John had also reiterated this commandment in the earlier part of his epistle (1 John 2:7). In the text of 1 John 4, he was encouraging his brethren to practise love for each other. Why?

1. Because It Is A True Indication Of Faith In God

“For love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” 
1 John 4:7-8

When we really show love towards each other, it is a very vivid indicator that we truly belong to God. This is absolutely in contrast to the person who merely claims that he believes in the Lord God and has no love for others. Because the character of love is so much a part of God, the one who believes in Him will also display such love in his words said and deeds done. Loving one another is proof that we really know and love God.

2. Because We Are Compelled By The Love Of God Manifested To Us Through Christ

The love of God was made known to us in a definite way when God sent His only Son to be with us.

a. Propitiation Of Sins

“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.” 
1 John 4:10

The Lord God had no reason to love us and yet, He demonstrated His love towards us in sending His Son to die for our sins. The word “propitiation” means “to appease the righteous requirements and wrath of God”. The Lord Jesus brought about propitiation for the whole world (1 John 2:2). This is indeed a demonstration of great love.

b. Possessing Of Life Through Christ

“That God sent His only begotten Son into the world that we might live through Him.” 
1 John 4:9

It is also through the love of God that He was willing to send His only Son to be with us in this world. Christ came into this world that we might experience abundant life through Him. It is through Him that we have eternal life on this earth and in the next.

Showing Our Love And Support In Practical Ways

“Beloved if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” 
1 John 4:11

If the Lord God truly loved us in such a great way through His Son Jesus, ought we not to reciprocate that love by really seeking to love one another? Not only would we be obeying the Lord’s commandment to loving another, we would also show to everyone that we are indeed children of God. One practical way to show our love and support for each other is to come for the wedding service of Gavin and Cherie this Saturday at 2 pm. They have invited the Young People’s Group to come to their wedding service. This is their special moment of coming together to seek the Lord’s blessing for their marriage. Let’s show our love and care for them by coming for this. Let’s seek to be there for each other in whatever way we can.

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