November 23, 2008 · 1 John 5:1

1 John 5 1-5

“If we don't love those who have put their faith in Christ, how can we really say that we love God? That's what he's getting at here. How you interact here at the weekly with other people, other Christians are in your living rooms. That's very, telling about your relationship with God. I know some people say, I hate Christians. I'm not a Christian, I think. Well, you can't hate Christians and be a Christian. You can see that sometimes Christians do stupid things, obviously. But you can't hate Christians and call yourself a Christian. See, if you don't love those who you see putting their faith in Christ, how are you going to expect that God to love you or you to love God? I don't know. Let's think about it. If you're really honest with yourself, I'll be honest here. When I'm upset with God, or if I'm feeling separated from Him, those are probably the days when I'm not the nicest. Maybe I'll be cold to people, or really short, or maybe even purposely mean. But why? Because God is love, and it's in loving other people that you get to know God. So when you're not close with God, that connection with other people is gone, and God's commandment is that we love one another. It's not a burdensome commandment, and you get a lot out of it yourself when you love. So how's it a burden to love? And there's a promise that comes with loving God. There's something that you promise if you love God, if you follow God's command, if you love God's children, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world even our faith. Everyone born of God overcomes the world.”