Changed by His Love
1 John 2:10: He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him.
Our passage continues the illustration of light and darkness. If a Christian walks in the light and is in fellowship with God, he will also be in fellowship with others in God’s family. Love and light go together, much as hatred and darkness go together.
It is easy to talk about Christian love, but much more difficult to practice it. For one thing, such love is not mere talk.
For a Christian to say (or sing!) that he loves the brethren, while he actually hates another believer, is for him to lie. In other words (and this is a sobering truth), it is impossible to be in fellowship with the Father and out of fellowship with another Christian at the same time. Contrary to popular opinion, Christian love is not “blind.” When we practice true Christian love, we find life getting brighter and brighter. Hatred is what darkens life! When true Christian love flows out of our hearts, we will have greater understanding and perception in spiritual things. 1
Loving Him
Wiersbe stated: “It is impossible to be in fellowship with the Father and out of fellowship with another Christian at the same time.” Pray about this statement and discuss the reality of this truth with a mature Christian friend. So how does that work when there is a matter of Church discipline that means dis-fellowship, until repentance and restoration occurs? What value did Jesus place on fellowship?
Give an example. How could fellowship abound more at your church? What do you do when you pursue fellowship but your invitations are rejected by another Christian?
And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment. Philippians 1:9
Loving Others
Abiding in His Light is the safest place to be in the whole world.
Make Me Like You
Lord, help me to abound more and more in the fullness of Your love towards others.
1. Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
