“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God…” – 1 John 1:7
Scripture reading: 1 John 1:7-11
Previously we saw how Peter stirred up others to grow in the Lord through good works. But Hebrews 10:24 called us to stir up our fellow Christians to love and good works. How do we stir up others to love? Can such a thing even be done?
1 John is a letter about love, written in part to stir up the church to love. Here, John stirs up the church by commanding them to love because of who God is. This is a beautiful way to stir up love. It is done not by pointing to ourselves, but to the God who is love.
One of the joys of getting to know families in the church is seeing the family resemblance through the years. Children can take on the characteristics of parents or grandparents, and when babies are born we love to say, “He or she has her mother’s or father’s eyes.”
We stir ourselves and others to love when we remind others that love is simply part of who God is. We belong to a Father who loves, and in the light of His great love for us, our love for others flows like a river from a spring. It’s the family resemblance, and we bear it the more we look at (and like) our Father.
Do you know God’s love? Sanctification can’t occur without it, and when you receive it, you become able to share it.
Suggestions for prayer
Pray for a deeper knowledge and experience of God’s love in your life.
Pastor Greg Bylsma is the pastor of the Living Water Reformed Church of Brantford, Ontario (a member church of the URCNA). He is a graduate of Mid-America Reformed Seminary and was ordained to the Gospel ministry in 2005. After over 20 years in the ministry, he still loves his job and considers it an incredible honour to be able to teach others about the beauty of Jesus Christ. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com.