Date: February 19, 2008
Devotional: Brotherly Love
Scripture Verse: I John 4:7-8
Beloved, let us love one another:
for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God,
and knoweth God.
He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
I JOHN 4:7-8
Love for one another, fellow Christians, proves our spiritual birth and our relationship with God. We must have an intimate, experiential knowledge of God, rather than just information about Him. It is not to say that those who do not love are not born of God. Yet it is impossible to know God intimately without loving others, for God is love. Anyone in whom God dwells reflects His character. To claim to know God while failing to love others is to make a false claim.
Love is a three way street when it comes to God. It doesn’t simply depend on you and your brother or sister in Christ, but on God as well. Whatever your relationship, God has a part in it. You cannot fail to love a fellow Christian and not fail to love God.
We must remember to put others’ good above ourselves. In I Corinthians 10:24, it says:
Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s wealth.
I Corinthians 10:24
Though we have freedom, we also have a responsibility to help others in their Christian growth…by doing so we are showing brotherly love. Our first duty is to others, not ourselves.
If our love is directed toward others, we will rejoice in the blessings they receive rather than desiring those blessings for ourselves. The selfless love that God calls us to does not involve pride or glory. It does not parade itself and is not puffed up. In fact, true love does not seek its own. If we truly love others, we will set aside our own plans, agendas, and entitlements for the good of another.
God has promised that those who love are born of Him. You don’t want to act like someone who has never known His love or healing power. You must ask God to bring His love into each relationship you have and let it be a testimony to His ability to bring love into humble human lives. On a daily basis, ask God to fill your life with His reaching-out love.
