Homes Where God’s Love Lives and Thrives
July 17, 2023
Homes Where God’s Love Lives and Thrives
“Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hates you. We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. 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 dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.” 1 John 3:13-19 (KJV)
Deeply loved by God: Do you recall what our precious Lord reinforced with respect to our resolution to a relationship with him?
“Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.” 1 John 3:13 (KJV)
“Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.” Matthew 5:11-12 (KJV)
Due to our obedience and godly occupation with our Lord, we have become objects of obsessive contempt by a Christ-less culture and a world that writhes like that wicked serpent Satan. At the onset of the Christian movement, committed followers of Jesus Christ around the world have been persecuted, arrested, assaulted (verbally and physically), torn, tortured, and terminated.
In light of all that, some of us might feel foolish for fixing ourselves to Facebook and other social platforms to complain when people simply make fun of us. It’s erroneous to engage in a personal pursuit to satisfy an implacable interest in “likes” and profile followers.
Nevertheless, while believers in the western hemisphere might not experience the same level of persecution as historic Christians or fellow believers around the world today, we do feel the strong and sharp sting of not being liked, respected and welcomed by the world. But why do so many in the world are captured in a vitriolic vice for all of us who have victory in Christ? Our message is from the Master, which is love.
However, we still seem to irritate people. It should come as no surprise that we are disliked even when there is no due cause. It requires the fear of the Lord, which is the beginning of wisdom, as well as spiritual and emotional maturity to know when we’re being hated for the right reasons. Therefore, it is imperative that we are entrenched, edified and embraced in the love of God. God’s love must also manifest itself in real time, starting at home. Why is it so important for God’s love to be on display in our homes?
We need God’s love at home because of the hostility outside of home (1 John 3:13).
A home with God’s love has inhabitants that remember where they came from (1 John 3:14).
A home with God’s love is a home with people who have been delivered from death (1 John 3:14).
A home with God’s love is a home that does not harbor hate and is headed to heaven (1 John 3:15).
A home with God’s love fully understands the cost (sacrifice) of love (1 John 3:16).
A home with God’s love always looks to meet the needs of others (1 John 3:17).
A home with God’s love will manifest a love that is effective and is grounded in truth (1 John 3:18).
A home with God’s love is evidence of genuine relationship with Him (1 John 3:19).
We will not be welcomed by the world because it is not our home. We will only be at home in a house where God’s love is alive and thrives.
For the Glory of God,
PBKSR