Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

1 John 4:11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. We are encouraged today by an if/then statement. If God has manifested his love in us by giving us his Son so that we might live through Him, then we also ought to manifest his love to one another. It makes total sense that if God, who is love dwells in us, and we live through Him, that His love would be the outstanding dynamic among those who are His. Jesus said as much in John 13:34 and 35 when He gave them the new commandment to love as He loved and said, “By this all men will know that you are my disciples.” And again in John 15:8, Jesus encouraged the disciples when He said, “My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit (and of course, the fruit is love) and so prove to be My disciples.” The very presence of the life of Jesus Christ in us is the proof that God loves us, and therefore we should be excited about loving Him by loving His children, our brothers and sisters in Christ. I hope you’ll pray now, and be filled with the Holy Spirit, so that you’re ready to love everyone God puts in your path today, for His glory.