Bible Reading: 2 Chro. 18; 1 Thes. 3:1-13.
“And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:” – 1 Thessalonians 3:12 (KJV)
John 3:16 (KJV) says: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” What kind of love is this?” Apostle Paul in his letter to the Corinthians gives us the features of that love in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (KJV): “Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.”
This is the love that God expects us to give to all our brethren and extend it to all men. If all Christians alone give this type of love, the whole world would have been infected with love and more people would have been won to Christ. So showing love to others is a great way of preaching the gospel because the bible tells us in 1 John 4:7-8 (KJV): “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. [8] He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.”
What is expected of us is to replicate Gods love to other human beings irrespective of their belief, colour, status in life, tribe, sex or age! The bible asks us to love one another since no man has seen God at anytime but believe that we are all made by God, then we should love the creations of God. (1 John 4:11-12).
That’s why 1 John 4:20 (KJV) says: “If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?” Apostle Paul therefore enjoins us to practice what we preach by showing love to all! 1 Thessalonians 3:12 (KJV): “And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men , even as we do toward you:”
Prayer point: Father, help me to show unconditional love to all men and women in Jesus name.
Brother Biodun Oyapero