ByLove is one of the most used words in our generation. Because of its frequent use, many people have distorted views about its meaning. But what about you? Have you deeply studied what the Bible says about love? What about how God expects us to love one another as His children?
I saw a quote on one of Pastor Vladimir Savchuk’s Facebook posts that says, “choices are more powerful than statistics.” So chipping its meaning in this article, it implies that no matter how messy this world has become in interpreting love, if you choose to study God’s Word and follow the ways of God, you’ll not miss your providential way. In this article, I’ll be teaching about how God expects us to love one another as His children. But before that, what is love?
Choices are more powerful than statistics.
Vlad Savchuk
What Is Love?
Merriam-Webster dictionary defines love as a genuine affection for another person or thing based on admiration, benevolence or common interests. Although that definition is meaningful, it isn’t the correct definition of love according to the wisdom of the Bible.
The Word says in 1 John 4:8 that “… God is love.” So love isn’t about emotions, sex or affection; it’s the essence of God. God is affectionate or caring (1 Peter 5:7). So affection is one of His ways of showing love but not its entirety. Don’t be deceived. God is love. Hence, to understand love, focus on understanding God through His Word. You can only love as He loves if you know the Bible as a child of God.
Following this understanding, let’s move on to how God expects us to love one another as His children.
Reading 1st John 3:18 (KJV), it’s written,
“My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.”
So according to the verse above, we, children of God, are expected to love in deed and truth, not in word or tongue. But what does it mean to love in deed?
Love in deed
To love in deed means; don’t just say “I love you” to that fellow without showing the appropriate actions to justify your talk. If you’re brethren in Christ, give one another gifts, correct one another constructively, and help that friend struggling with something to get a lasting solution by providing wise suggestions.
However, be mindful that unbelievers cannot do all of the above-said deeds. Why? Because the world says, “I give you something; you give me another thing in return.” That is why so many evil employers demand sex in return for job placement from female job applicants. Such people don’t have the character of Christ formed in them, and you should be careful around them. That would also mean choosing a life partner amongst the brethren in Christ is for your own safety.
Administer the ways of God out of love. Focus on following Jesus and glorifying Him in all your deeds. You’ll see that loving people in deed will be easy. The virtues of love in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 won’t be a theory in your mind but a life.
Love in truth
Another way God expects us to love people as His children is to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). You can only love in truth by not keeping quiet on matters that need to be settled. That is where constructive correction as an act of love comes in. It’s probably the bitter aspect of love, but worth it.
Many people can clap you out of victory and dominion. Some people skilfully keep quiet, knowing very well that the path you’re moving on is dangerous. Be careful of those people. God knows this, and that’s why Jesus said we should detect and solve our own life mistakes before thinking about fault-finding in other people’s lives (Matthew 7:3-5). He knows that some people cannot discern your problems well. However, if you get people who can accommodate you in your life despite your faults and excesses, love and cherish them because they’ll be caring enough to advise you when you’re doing something wrong.
Lay down your life for the brethren
Thirdly, God wants us to love one another as His children by laying down our lives for others. 1 John 3:16 (KJV) says,
“Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.”
Therefore, to perceive God’s love, we ought to do what He did. He laid down His life for us. So we ought to do the same. Will you die for the one you love? Will you sacrifice your selfish desires to do what others demand from you? If you can do this, you’re laying down your life for others. But note that nobody can do this if he doesn’t know Jesus because it’s only in Christ you’ll learn the way of selflessness.
“Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.” – 1 John 4:11 (KJV)
You’re a blessing.
