Sunday February 5, 2023

Sunday – February 5th – 1 John 4:20-21     -----     
 
4:20) If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?
21) And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.
 
The Daily Walk Bible inspirational thought for today:
      THE WONDER OF THE CROSS IS NOT THE BLOOD BUT WHOSE BLOOD.*

     Happy Sunday to you! Our inspirational thought for today corresponds with the daily readings from the book of Leviticus which outlines the many sacrifices required for the Israelites to grow in their connection to God. If you have read the book of Leviticus then you are fully aware that there is a lot of blood shed in the sacrifices required of the Hebrews. I cant begin to imagine the amount of blood that flowed over the altar from the many bulls, rams, sheep, and birds that were offered up to God. By contrast the blood of Jesus completed the need for any future sacrifices on humanities behalf. Jesus, being God in the flesh, fulfilled the requirement for a blood sacrifice for the forgiveness of sin once and for all. The only thing left for us to do is to say yes and thank you to Jesus.

     In our pick verses for today we close out chapter four of John’s first letter. In these verses he concludes his teaching on modeling the love of God to others. Love for God will also bring love for our fellow humans. To profess love for God and not love for others is both logically inconsistent and disobedient to God. Admittedly, some people are hard to love because of their actions toward others. Inappropriate actions are never acceptable and should not be intentionally overlooked simple because we are called to “love” them. At times love must be tough and willing to set boundaries. As a parent at times may need to discipline a child with tough love that doesn’t mean they have failed in God’s command to love others. God loves us enough to discipline us when we are out of line. We can love like God loves even when we don’t necessarily like someone.

Blessings
   Pastor Jim
Monday – February 6th – 1 John 5:1

*The Daily Walk Bible NLT: Explore God's Path to Life (p. 466). Tyndale House Publishers. Kindle Edition.

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