“Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and whoever loves the Father loves the child born of Him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and observe His commandments.” – 1 John 5:1-2
John is clearly focusing on our love for others. Earlier in his letter John states that if we love God then we should love our brothers and sisters. Now he is focusing more on how we love others–and it leads right back to loving God! The best way, then, to grow in loving others is not to try our hardest to love others with God along for the ride. Rather, it is to grow more and more in love with God by obeying Him. As we obey this command to love what God himself loves, we come to see and appreciate more clearly how good, gracious, and loving our Father is. Then we are moved to love others by living more in the truth and love of God.
Are you living in obedience and loving what God loves today?
