Love = Life!

For Tuesday, May 9, 2023:

1 John 3:14 NLT: “If we love our brothers and sisters who are believers, it proves that we have passed from death to life. But a person who has no love is still dead.”

Jesus’ new command – to love one another as he loved us – is huge! And it’s not really new. But it seems this Old Testament directive wasn’t being taught by religious leaders, and wasn’t being practiced by those who otherwise believed in our Creator God. Jesus wanted to put ‘loving our fellows’ on the top line of a believer’s daily agenda! He was determined that the next generation of believers would be kind, helpful and forgiving. Jesus wanted to leave the world a little better than when he arrived!

John writes that showing love for our brothers and sisters is a sign we have passed from death to life. Of course he’s referring to eternal death, separation from the Father, becoming eternal life in the presence of the Lord and all the Saints. With God is where you want to spend eternity, so love your neighbors to the max!

Growing up in a church, we learned about the 10 Commandments. In the Bible, we find there are actually 613 Commandments, things God said we are to do. That’s a little complicated for most people, so I prefer to focus on Jesus’ summary: Love God and love your neighbors! If you do that, you’ll be OK! You’ll be with Jesus!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship