GOODNEWSLETTER
Number 439, November 14, 2012
LOVE
"For God so loved the world..." John 3:16.
It has been our understanding for some time, when it come to service of the LORD, that LOVE is the key. Of course, it is! And, every believer must learn what is the application of LOVE. We have to know what the Bible says about LOVE; how it works when we obey through exercising LOVE. Keeping the commandments are CLEARLY taught by Jesus Christ. "If you love me, you will keep my commandments" John. 14:15 (All verses from N A S B).
LOVE proves our intentions. And, LOVE brings such blessings. Jesus said, "If anyone loves me, he will keep My word..." John 14:23. WOW !! GOD IS GOOD. Further, in the same verse Jesus tells us that LOVE brings about communion with the Father. "and My Father will love him." Further: "We will come to him and make our abode with him," John 14:23. For fallen and sinful man, it doesn't get any better than meeting with the TRINITY. And, the meeting comes only through love. But, WHAT LOVE IT IS !!!
In his epistles of 1st, 2nd and 3rd John, the beloved apostle explains what it means to observe God's word; that is, how it operates within mankind. "By this (keeping His word) we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments," 1st John 2:3. If we don't keep His commandments, John says that we are liars and "the truth is not in us" (V 4 ).
John wants us to really understand the meaning of God's love and how it works within us. In chapter 5, verse 3 he states, "For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments..." After telling us that the commandments are the meaning of LOVE itself, he tells us that any commandment ought not to be considered burdensome. He then, restates its meaning. "And this is love, that we walk in His commandments," verse 6. In fact, John informs us that knowing God's love should not be thought of as something new, either; for, "just as you have heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it," verse 6 b.
So, what's up for next service time. Going to be there? Absolutely. Positively and, unequivocally !!! For indeed, the service of God is walking in His commandments and not forsaking the assembly as others.