Book #:#: Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

If we love those who love us, or if there is a selfish motive in our loving them, there is no value in that. The Lord Jesus said, “For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?” (Matt. 5:46). “We ought also to love one another.” I like that—when John says ought, he means it. He is not talking about the cheap sentiment which a great many people entertain today. Jesus said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15). If you really love Him, keep His commandments. “This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you” (John 15:12). How about it, my friend? Do you mean to tell me that you can hate Christians down here and still love God? I want to say to you very frankly that if you cannot demonstrate in your life that you have love for other believers, there is a serious question whether you are a child of God or not. There is a lot of nonsense going on today. We are not talking about backslapping, calling somebody “brother,” or behaving so nicely in the church. But do you have a concern for believers? Do you have a concern to get out His Word? Do you have a concern to serve Him? 1

Loving Him

The real test of our love is in our relationship towards others. If we are spending eternity with Christians in heaven, it would be wise to be more gracious towards other Christians on earth. Do you need to change your attitude and your heart towards a fellow Christian today? Pray for them. Let God make His changes in them. It is His job, not yours.

And he said, “He who showed mercy on him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.” Luke 10:37

Loving Others

The greatest love we can give is to give out the love that Jesus gave to us. – TWEET IT

Changing Me

Lord, thank You for patiently teaching more and more about the sacrificial love You demonstrated to redeem the world.

1. McGee, J. V. (1991). Thru the Bible commentary: The Epistles (1 John) (electronic ed., Vol. 56, p. 130). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

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Tommy Blumberg

Tommy Blumberg

Tommy Blumberg was ordained as a Calvary Chapel pastor in 1985, where he served as an assistant pastor at Calvary Fellowship, in Seattle. In 1992, Pastor Tom, his wife Pam, and their three daughters moved to Bellingham and began a Bible study, which led to the founding of Calvary Chapel Northwest. Tom blogs regularly at TommyBlumberg.com.