1 John 4:13-16

1John 4:13 ¶ We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. 1John 4:14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 1John 4:15 If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. 1John 4:16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. ¶ God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. 1John 4:17 In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him.

God is love. This tells us that all that proceeds from God does so out of His love for us! Whether it be something that, in the short run, is painful or pleasant, we know that God sends these things to us out of love for us! The scripture says that "all things" work together for good to them who love God and are called. This is a long view, for we know that the short run is painful oft times.

In Psalm 37, we are admonished to wait on the Lord and not worry about the short term prosperity of the evil or worldly for in the long term, the righteous (those in Christ) will inherit the earth! Psalm 37:1-9:

Psa. 37:1 ¶ Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong; Psa. 37:2 for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away. Psa. 37:3 Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Psa. 37:4 Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psa. 37:5 Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: Psa. 37:6 He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. Psa. 37:7 Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Psa. 37:8 Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret &endash; it leads only to evil. Psa. 37:9 For evil men will be cut off, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.

Even when God brings things to us that cause us pain, it is out of His unending love and His unbounded wisdom, knowing that in the fullness of time, these things will bring about a glorious end in us. Hebrews 12 tells us that God scourges every child that He receives, again because He cares for us!

Now, if we have this relationship with our heavenly father, how should this translate to our relationship with one another? We are told that the two greatest commandments are to love God and to love our neighbor. How do we walk in the second? The scripture tells us that we should walk in the Spirit. This is further elucidated in Galatians 5, where we are told very specifically what walking the Spirit is.

Gal. 5:19 ¶ The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; Gal. 5:20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions Gal. 5:21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. Gal. 5:22 ¶ But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, Gal. 5:23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Gal. 5:24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Gal. 5:25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Gal. 5:26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

Clearly, this tells of an active, vital love for each other and for, as Jesus said, our neighbors - those who are close to us. Close it would appear is defined as either relationally close or even physically close. How do we know this for sure? We know because Christ Himself is our way shower. It was Jesus who went about doing good to all those around Him during His earthly ministry. If we truly want to know what it means to be loving, we need look no further than the Lord. Jesus said He did nothing that He did not receive of His father. The father acts out of love for His creatures, even in Judgement, as we have seen in other studies. Therefore, we can only conclude that Jesus activities on this earth were motivated solely by the love that is the father's heart.

What do we see Jesus doing in His earthly ministry? We see Him actively engaged is serving those around Him without expectation of reward. We see Him healing the sick and dealing at every opportunity with the main human disease - sin. He preached the Kingdom of God to all who would listen, whether they believed in Him or not. Why waste His breath on the Pharisees? Because of the dual blessing of helping them to see their own separated state from God so they would turn and to show others what not to be like. He was forgiving at every turn, when any willing or hurting heart was involved. He did not compromise with sin, knowing that it was a deadly disease. And He was actively involved with those around Him for their long term benefit. He knew that they wouldn't truly understand or many of them even be converted until after His death, but He still invested His life into them, knowing that God never fails to reap a harvest in every place that He plants a seed.

How do we apply these examples of Jesus love in our lives? The first and most obvious application is to do good to whomever we come into contact with, without expectation of reward or result. Doing good, in Jesus own words, is contained in Matthew 25:

Matt. 25:40 ¶ "The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’

We notice that Jesus tells us that our acts for others are counted as acts for Christ!

I find that the best way to determine what this good is, at least for parents, is to ask, "how would I treat my child in this situation?" In human terms, the parent/child relationship is often the closest approximation to God's love for us that we can imagine.

Let us look at John 3:11-18

1John 3:11 ¶ This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. 1John 3:12 Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous. 1John 3:13 Do not be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you. 1John 3:14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death. 1John 3:15 Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him. 1John 3:16 ¶ This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. 1John 3:17 If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? 1John 3:18 Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.

Cain took the position that "I am not my brother's keeper". Cain looked to his own good and therefore slew Able. John admonishes us to be the opposite of Cain, for we ARE our brothers keeper and should look to his good.

The last verse above shows that love is not something that can be separated from action. If we are to love our neighbor, it must be shown in our acts. The apostle James goes so far as to tell us that if we do not act out our faith, then it is not alive in the first place.

Paul says, in Romans 12, that we are to offer our bodies (speaking of our actions) as living sacrifices to God.

Rom. 12:9 ¶ Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Rom. 12:10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Rom. 12:11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Rom. 12:12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Rom. 12:13 Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

The devotion above is elaborated on in the following verses. We are told of honoring each other in deed, not just word. James told us (James 2:16) that if we are those who merely love in word and tell those who need us to "be warmed and filled" but do not act our faith out, we do not truly love.

We are told in the scripture that we are to help others in the physical needs. This is often the easiest portion of our task as Christians, because it involves little risk. Jesus, however, went much further. Whenever He saw spiritual needs, He would bring them out and offer help. "Go and sin no more" was His direction to the woman caught in adultery. Love requires both forgiveness and instruction. It was common for Jesus to both heal a person physically as well as deal with their spiritual condition. Of course, Jesus knows all things and this is hard for us. The words of scripture that admonish us to love others and act in their lives beyond just provision for their physical needs is daunting. And there is the real possibility of conceit. But those dangers are far outweighed by the prospect of love that we can offer. God tells us in many places how to act in other's lives without becoming proud in the flesh.

Gal. 6:1 ¶ Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Gal. 6:2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. Gal. 6:3 If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. Gal. 6:4 Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, Gal. 6:5 for each one should carry his own load.

Rom. 15:1 ¶ We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Rom. 15:2 Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. Rom. 15:3 For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: "The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me." Rom. 15:4 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

It can be difficult to live out these instructions from God. This is why we are given the Spirit, so that we may have the strength and so that all that has been told us by God would be brought to our remembrance. God often opens doors and instructs us to step through, just as He did with Phillip and the Ethiopian Eunuch. He simply instructed Phillip to go near to the Eunuch and the rest followed from there. Obviously, from other scriptures, we know that our involvement with others doesn't always happen this way. But often, the Spirit will bring those into our lives and simply join us to them. We then, as Phillip, simply engage ourselves with that person and help as the need arises.

It is, of course, considered politically incorrect or rude to offer personal advice or thoughts to a person today. It's fine, if you see a person with a flat or low tire to let them know that they have a problem. But if they are damaging themselves or their family in some other way, we are told to mind our own business. But did Jesus? Do the scriptures describe this as love? Or is minding our own business more akin to Cain's behavior in asking if he is his brothers keeper? We are not to set ourselves up as masters of others, but in a spirit of humility serve them out of love. If your child is hurting themselves, how would you respond? Would you not become involved, lovingly trying to help them as best you can? Should we not care for our sisters and brothers in Christ with the same love? Should we not prove that we are His disciples by extending this kind of self-less love to the world that Christ died for?

Is this dangerous? Most certainly. Is it hard? Yes. It is certainly much more comfortable to stay without our worlds and just pray for others and hope that God will do something about it. Praying is powerful. But as we have seen, Jesus tells us that TRUE love is action oriented and works itself out on the street, in the office and where ever people need the love and truth of Christ and His instruction from the Scripture. But Jesus was willing to act out His love for us to the point of suffering and dying on the cross. He was willing to tell us the truth about who and what we are outside of Him and all that we can be when we walk with Him in love and obedience. Phillip could have responded to God, regarding the Ethiopian Eunuch and said, "God, please help that man learn of you." But Phillip loved God and loved all His creatures and so, when the Spirit told him to walk near the Eunuch, went out on a limb and injected himself in the Eunuch's personal life and faith.

I suppose that's what "tough love" is about. I suppose it's about Paul willingly sacrificing a promising life as a leading citizen and intellectual to show others the wonders of Jesus Christ. I suppose it's about the other Apostles inserting themselves in the social structure of their day to the point that they suffered execution, except for John who was banished for life. Could it be that our modern society has left us unwilling to exhibit the depth of love we are shown in the scriptures?

It is safe to say that we who are Christians wish to be Godly. That means, therefore, we wish to be motivated by love at all times. God has provided helps and direction on what that means, so we will close with a few more scriptures that tell us of how we should act out the love of God. Let these things be within us as the mind of Christ and as the Spirit brings the Word to life in each one of us and encourages us to walk as Jesus.

Col. 3:12 ¶ Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Col. 3:13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. Col. 3:14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Eph. 4:17 ¶ So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. Eph. 4:18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Eph. 4:19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more. Eph. 4:20 ¶ You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. Eph. 4:21 Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. Eph. 4:22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; Eph. 4:23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; Eph. 4:24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Eph. 4:25 ¶ Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. Eph. 4:26 "In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, Eph. 4:27 and do not give the devil a foothold. Eph. 4:28 He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need. Eph. 4:29 ¶ Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. Eph. 4:30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Eph. 4:31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Eph. 4:32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Eph. 5:1 ¶ Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children Eph. 5:2 and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Eph. 5:3 ¶ But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Eph. 5:4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. Eph. 5:5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person &endash; such a man is an idolater &endash; has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Eph. 5:6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Eph. 5:7 Therefore do not be partners with them. Eph. 5:8 ¶ For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light Eph. 5:9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) Eph. 5:10 and find out what pleases the Lord. Eph. 5:11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. Eph. 5:12 For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. Eph. 5:13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, Eph. 5:14 for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: "Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you." Eph. 5:15 ¶ Be very careful, then, how you live &endash; not as unwise but as wise, Eph. 5:16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Eph. 5:17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Eph. 5:18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Eph. 5:19 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, Eph. 5:20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Eph. 5:21 ¶ Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

1Cor. 13:1 ¶ If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 1Cor. 13:2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 1Cor. 13:3 If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. 1Cor. 13:4 ¶ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 1Cor. 13:5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 1Cor. 13:6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 1Cor. 13:7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 1Cor. 13:8 ¶ Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 1Cor. 13:9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 1Cor. 13:10 but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. 1Cor. 13:11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. 1Cor. 13:12 Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 1Cor. 13:13 ¶ And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.