by Lloyd T. Anderson Pastor, Bethany Baptist Church West Covina, California heart of the Christian as hate brings strife and heartache—like “the wages of sin is death” or sin, when it is finished bringeth forth death.” But, happily, there is a solution to the un loving thoughts concerning our breth ren and this comes through the serv ice of love as seen in verses 16, 17— “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. But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwell- eth the love of God in him?” If we do nothing for others we cease to think of them; we become thoughtless of his interests; we be come indifferent to his needs; and finally we come to dislike him and not think of him as a person. When we become involved with others we care for them and our hearts fill with love. You cannot possibly hate some one you love for Christ’s sake. Some one has said, “There is general love we owe to everyone; there is a par ticular love which Christians owe to their fellow believers and there is an overwhelming love that is fervent and fearless on all occasions as shown by John to Christ.” In John 15 we have the truth brought out that real love of the brethren is climaxed in our being willing to lay down our lives for our brethren, which is the opposite of being willing to take up slanders and evil reports concerning God’s children. The Lord expects us to share in a temporal need as well as a spiritual need. How can we look out on our confused lost world saying that we love God, and yet ignore the cries of help from so many? Where is this “love that makes the world go
StuduiA in I John
W e continue our study on love as this little book so beauti fully portrays. Love is seen in many aspects which reveals facets as in a diamond. We have noticted first of all God’s love for us with references throughout the Word of God. He love« us with a pure love, with an everlasting love, with total love, with the picture of love we see in John 3:16 and I Corinthians 13. This then becomes our standard for love and our goal in the treatment of others. In verse 13 we have brought to our attention that we should not be sur prised if the world hates us or in other words; is indifferent to us, doesn’t take interest in us, or even makes fun of us as to scorn our faith and stand in the Lord. Everyone wants to be thought well of and wants to be accepted so this constant strain of indifference and scorn can be wear ing on our hearts. The Lord doesn’t want this anxiety to overtake and submerge us but that as we may fully be satisfied in the truth that God accepts us and that we have His ap proval. We are in His family. In verse 12 we have a portrait of Cain as the unloving brother. If Cain had really loved God, he would have loved his brother also. We see no sign of his personal love for God nor do we see any sign of self-denying love which sanctifies family life to make these relationships meaningful. Envy, not love, was in Cain’s heart which destroyed a clear outlook for him in his relationships to others. Envy dis torts one’s motives whereas love ful fills and blesses others. When love is missing, the fruits of the flesh are evident. The next verses speak of hate for brothers which has no room in the 32
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