Read the transcript from today's video devotional.
We all know we should love people, but certain people sometimes feel impossible to love. Then, do you know what? The older you grow, it seems like there's more people that you need to love. Love is a very difficult thing for us sometimes.
The Contrast Between True and False Christians
As we look at the context of 1 John, the Apostle John draws a contrast between who the children of God really are and then those who are, frankly, the phonies. As my children would say—the posers. They act like they're really Christian, but they really don't have a redeemed heart.
That's the contrast. As we look at this, John speaks to the person who's truly an authentic Christian. This is a true evidence that we really love Jesus Christ.
Two Reasons This Historic Message Is Relevant Today
Very simply, here are two reasons why this historic message has relevance for us.
Number One: The Gospel Foundation
He says in the verse, "This is the message you've heard from the beginning." This is the bedrock truth of the Gospel message. It's been around for thousands of years.
I'll never forget—I was going to speak at a college event, and I was speaking with one of the pastors I used to serve with, and I was nervous. I didn't know what to say, and I was worried about the people I was going to speak in front of and just had all kinds of anxieties and fears. I was trying to figure out a clever verse or a section of Scripture I wanted to share.
He looked at me and he said, "You know what, Rick? Remember 2 Peter chapter 1, verse 12, where Peter said, 'I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them.'" Then he looked at me and he said, "We have a ministry of reminding, not a ministry of innovation."
The Bible is certainly not against innovation, but the bedrock truth of the Bible—the truth that's been here for thousands of years—endures. It's relevant, right? For us today, the Gospel Foundation—the unchanging, historic, real, true Jesus Christ message that we have and always have had for thousands of years.
Number Two: Great Love
Very simply, from the verse: "We should love one another." There it is. Roll up your sleeves, do the best you can, and love other people. Why? Because you and I have been given so much.
The fact that Jesus Christ loved us, saved us, and forgave us is a reason. Because the grace of God should compel us and propel us to love other people.
Quite frankly, we can say love is really hard. It's not hard to do. It's impossible to do. It's absolutely impossible for you and I to love without the Spirit of God living inside of us, motivating us to love other people.
Love Covers a Multitude of Sins
I love 1 Peter chapter 4 , verse 8. This is the verse for those of us who have been offended or hurt by people and you're struggling with it. The verse says very simply this: "Above all, love one another deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins."
Ask yourself, you know what? Am I really still offended by what happened to me? Or can I just cover it—because all of your sins have been covered if you know Christ?
Measure Your Maturity by Your Love
Two quick thoughts. Number one: measure your maturity by your love. That's incredibly convicting to me. It's not just the right thinking—it's actually loving people.
Jesus said this in John chapter 13, verse 34 when He was washing the disciples' feet: "Love one another, as I have loved you, so you must love one another."
Make Love Your Lifestyle
Secondly and finally, make love your lifestyle. It's very, very easy to be selfish, isn't it? Selfishness comes naturally to me. I don't know about you. Selfishness is easy, but I've even had moments in my life where I've actually called people and I've said, "You know what? I remember when you had that accident and you were in the hospital. I just want to let you know—I didn't even come visit you. I wish I would have called you and prayed for you."
Or I've said to another person, "You know, I remember the divorce you went through. I just want to let you know I'm sorry for how I responded. I really didn't understand all the difficulty you were going through."
Really, it was God showing me how I just need to make love a lifestyle for myself. I need to get better at loving.
As you look at your life, let's make love a lifestyle. Because Jesus Christ loved us so much.