3/17/24 LOVING OTHERS Pastor Joshua Kennedy 1 Peter 4, 1 John 3

LOVING OTHERS

LOVE RETURNED SERIES

1 Peter 4, 1 John 3

Loving God inherently involves loving others. It's not enough to claim devotion to God while harboring hatred for our fellow humans. As 1 John 4:20 asserts, if we fail to love those we can see, how can we claim to love God, whom we cannot see?

1 Peter 4 offers guidance for navigating adversity, with verse 8 as a poignant reminder:

"Above all, maintain fervent love for one another because love covers a multitude of sins."

This fervent love requires deep compassion, even towards those who may mistreat us. While it's effortless to love those who treat us kindly, true love is demonstrated in our ability to extend it to those who do not reciprocate.

Understanding that "love covers a multitude of sins" doesn't mean overlooking wrongdoing, but rather, it signifies love's capacity to forgive and persevere despite flaws. Through Christ, we find the strength to forgive and continue loving unconditionally while safeguarding ourselves from harm.

John's insight in 1 John 3 delves deeper into the transformative power of divine love:

"Those born of God do not habitually engage in sin, for God's nature abides in them; they cannot continue in sin because they are born of God. Thus, we discern the children of God from the children of the devil: those who practice righteousness and extend love to others belong to God."

The love of God empowers us to resist the allure of sin and exemplify righteousness. Our love for others becomes the litmus test of our allegiance to God as we move from harboring hate or ill intentions towards others to selflessly sacrificing for their well-being—the ultimate demonstration of God’s love.

In a world rife with discord and adversity, we are called to embody the transformative power of love. We stand charged to love fervently, not just those who reciprocate, but especially those who may oppose or mistreat us. Let our love be a shield covering many sins, forgiving even when difficult, and persevering through trials.

Our actions must echo the truth of our faith: to love is to abide in God, to reject hate, and to extend compassion without bounds. As we navigate life's challenges, let us be known not by our words alone but by our unwavering commitment to love.

Thus, the Holy Spirit gives us this charge: let love be our guiding light, our strength in adversity, and our testimony to the transformative grace of God. For in love, we find our most authentic expression of humanity, and in love, we reflect the very image of our Creator."