Last week, I brought up a simple fact: loving God = obedience to Him. After delving into the Scriptures, we were convinced that there is no way around it: if we want to love God we must obey His commands.
For this is what LOVE for God is: to keep His commands.
1 John 5:3
This week, we will look at one very specific area in which our obedience (or disobedience) clearly shows our LOVE for Him—our LOVE for one another.
1 John 4:21
And we have this command from Him:
The one who LOVES God must also LOVE his brother.
God specifically communicates, just as distinctly as in 1 John 5:3, that LOVE for Him requires obedience. If we LOVE God, we keep His commands—we obey Him. His command in this area is that we must also LOVE our brother (and sister). And we are encouraged that ‘yes! I CAN do this!’ because we know that His commands are not too hard for us “…His commands are not a burden…” (1 John 5:3b).
Jesus was preparing His disciples for His soon-coming death, resurrection and departure. One of the very important things that He spoke to them about was this very thing—LOVE—when He told them,
This is how everyone will know that you are my disciples,
if you have LOVE for one another.
John 13:35
Think about that for a moment, please. Was there ever anyone who loved more, or better, or more completely, or selflessly than our Lord? No…not ever. But, we understand from His communication with His disciples that they would be recognized as His by their LOVE for one another. Just amazing, isn’t it? Truly, I believe, we also are recognized as His by our LOVE for one another. How blessed are we!!!
We all know the ‘LOVE’ chapter of the Bible…that’s right, 1 Corinthians 13. Contained in that portion of the Scriptures is God’s definition of what LOVE is.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8
Love is patient,
Love is kind and is not jealous;
Love does not brag and is not arrogant,
does not act unbecomingly;
It does not seek its own, is not provoked,
does not take into account a wrong suffered,
does not rejoice in unrighteousness,
but rejoices with the truth;
bears all things, believes all things,
hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never fails;
Dear children, let us not LOVE with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.
1 John 3:18
The actions are clearly defined for us in 1 Corinthians chapter 13:
- being patient
- kind
- displaying no jealousy
- or bragging
- not being arrogant
- acting becomingly (appropriately)
- being selfless
- not being provoked
- not worrying about wrongs done to us
- not rejoicing in unrighteousness
- rejoicing in truth
- bearing and believing and hoping and enduring all things
These are the actions—the attitudes of our hearts—that show, or prove, or display our LOVE. Words are easy to say…but actions show the truth. Amen?
Praying for you each (please pray for me, too!) as you endeavor to be obedient and to treasure the commands of our God. Remember, loving God = obedience to His commands. He has commanded that we LOVE one another and to LOVE with actions, not just idle words.
Let all that you do be done in LOVE.
1 Corinthians 16:14
Praying for each of you!
♥ coleen
LOVE God, LOVE People (lyrics)
how can i thank You for the way that you freely gave
LOVE so beautiful, unconditionally
had to stop, take a break, feelin’ good today
everything’s wonderful…You didn’t have to do this for me
but then i look and see all of the suffering, i wanna do something
but something’s gotta start with me
i can’t give it ‘til i live it
now that my eyes are open, teach me how to LOVE
LOVE God…LOVE people! LOVE my neighbor as myself
my brother, my sister; everybody LOVE somebody
and now it’s time to make a change—revolution day
put it into action…live compassionately
you take the black and the white…red, yellow, brown
life gets better, it just gets better when we
we look around and see all of humanity
waiting on someone—someone is you and me
you can’t give it ‘til you live it
now that your heart is open, just reach out and LOVE
you can’t give it ‘til you live it
you can’t live it until you give it away
you can’t give it ‘til you live it
now that your heart is wide open, you gotta give all of your LOVE
you can’t live without giving LOVE
so let your heart be open; just reach out and, just reach out and LOVE <3
_________________________________
If you would like to send a personal message to Coleen, you may email her at:
Coleen@girlfriendscoffeehour.com, or leave a comment below.
About coleen hayden
Thank you for this reminder. I always want to argue with the Lord on that one, and say, “But, they are so unlovable.” That is the test that I seem to have to face over and over again.
oh, but martha…SUCH a good test! ’cause every time you have the joy to choose to obey your Father, and to show your love for Him! i say, ‘bring on the tests!’ yes? <3
Great devotion, Coleen. I love that you brought all those verses together. God’s Word is complete and doesn’t contradict itself, it compliments itself. Beautiful, complete, pure, and righteous! I want to love Him and others so completely that there is no question of whether I obey His Word.
me, too, clella…me, too! we have today…let’s do it! <3
Yea! I’m with you, sister!
Coleen, I love the blog and the completeness of your thoughts on obedience! I love Clella’s and Martha’s comments (as always!) Great post!!! Thank you so much!
thanks, friend! obedience is foundational, wouldn’t you say? <3
I have to agree with Martha that this is an area that I struggle with at times, too, especially when I “think” they are unlovable; that human flesh thing kicks in and says “unlovable”, but GOD sees nothing but LOVE! May I see all through His eyes, and treat them the way He would. Great reminder, Coleen! Thank You!!
christi, i think that there was only and ever One man Who didn’t struggle with this…and He is available to help us so that we become obedient to do the same! yes, our hearts can change (please, Lord, make this happen!) but as we are in that process we need to obey just to show our love for our God. let’s keep reminding one another, ok? <3
I love analyzing people this can be a gift and a problem. The Lord did use this ability in my life when I was a head nurse and a business owner. I could easily see the strengths of the person and then put them in positions to utilize their strengths On the other hand, Satan can really use my ability to read people and turn my mind to judgement. One thing about being a leader if you are in judgement too long, there will be no one following you. It makes you realize the importance of loving and appreciating the people you work with and using their gifts. I like the song as it tells us to find some(one) to love. Everyone of us has that some(one) in our life.Instead of avoiding that person, I know I need to ask the Lord how I can Love that person.