Focus: 1 John 4:21 - KJV
21. And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.
1 John 3:11-12
It is a general statement known to many that if we do not love our neighbors that we can see, how then can we claim to love God who we cannot see? It flows from this that it is not really easy to decipher who actually loves God. From the case of Cain and Abel, born of the same parents and dwelling together from infancy, it is easy to find the reason why it is difficult for man dwelling in the flesh to do love his brother. Like the scripture says, the reason Cain slew Abel was because his own works were evil whereas that of Abel was righteous. Gleaning from this, it is not difficult to say that the reason most people find it difficult to love their neighbor is because of their wicked ways compared to the righteousness of the neighbor. Why for instance, will a person bidding with others for a job, need to bribe to get the job? Is it not because there are others more qualified to land the job as against himself and the bribe, being a wicked act, meant to deprive the qualified righteous, the benefit of the job? As simple as it sounds, how then can such a briber come to the altar to give an offering from the proceeds of his wicked act with clear conscience?
Whatever we do, God is very aware of the intentions behind it all. That which we fail to appreciate is that every man that exists, is a product of God. If then we know that we are all equally God’s products, we ought to know that at the ordinary level, God sees us all as the same. Levels may change when we start to probe obedience to God and otherwise. Notwithstanding, the obedient and the disobedient all belong to God. It is not in the privilege of any to assume that because someone is seen as “disobedient”, he must not be loved. Indeed, those who so assume by themselves fall into the class of the disobedient in that the commandment of God is clear: we are to love our neighbors as ourselves, notwithstanding the person of the neighbor. Hence, when we love the neighbor, we are actually expressing love to his owner; and when we do otherwise, we say also to the owner, we do not love you.
Beloved, where do you stand in this matter? Are you someone who had been taking benefit of your neighbor through surreptitious and fraudulent means, claiming it is part of business skills? Is it not possible that some of such moves had led to the early demise of some since they are not tough enough to bear the effect of the disappointment? Should we then assume we love God by allowing people to be doomed due to our wicked acts and turn around to go and give thanks in a place and pretend to be giving out of the proceeds of our illicit acts unto God? But what manner of God will be happy with such and accept such filthy sacrifice? God is merciful. If we decide today to fully change our ways and start to treat everyone like we would like to be treated, He will surely accept us and our offerings in righteousness and approve our love for Himself.
SOLUTION: Stop maltreating fellow men whether directly, clandestinely or surreptitiously. Let your love for the neighbor be plain and seen as such by God.
Please pray: Dear Lord, concerning loving you, we have not been perfect. Help us to love our neighbors more dearly so that none of our acts towards them will be dubbed wicked, in Jesus’ name. Every act of wickedness in our relationship with others flowing from us, please forgive today in Jesus’ name. We do love you daddy. Do let the love show also in our dealings with our neighbors from now on in Jesus’ name.
If you are blessed by this post, kindly share with your contacts, as well as others, that they may be blessed also. Thank you and may God bless you abundantly as you do so, in Jesus’ name.