Love one another

1 John 3:11-18

“For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.” (1 John 3:11)

Why would the Holy Spirit see the need to tell people who have been freed from the power of sin through the redeeming blood of Jesus Christ and have been given the wisdom, righteousness, sanctification; to love one another?  This letter of John was written to Christians, who have been shown so great a love, but are often three quarts low on our dipstick in the love reservoir.  Could it be that many of us are just a little self-absorbed, could it be that we are trying to max out life on planet earth and give little or no thought to what the apostle John had shared earlier in his letter.  Let’s return to that part of the letter, “Do not love the world or the things in the world.  If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  For all that is in the world – the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions – is not from the Father but is from the world.”  That is a very clear message, it seems as if the enemy of our soul has not changed his tactics, they worked on Adam and Eve and they seem to be working well on you and me.

I have no problem taking care of number One, and that is what the Bible refers to as flesh, we all have it and if not put under the control of the Spirit it will rule our mind, our will, and our emotions.  The apostle Paul gave us clarity on this in Galatians 5:16-17, “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.  For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.”  If you are wondering what flesh looks like, Paul gives us a short list in verses 19-21, and if you go there make sure you read what freedom from the flesh looks like in verses 22-23.  Maybe it would be good to remind us of what freedom from the flesh looks like; it is love, not judgment, it is joy that no one can take from you, but you often give it up without a fight, it is peace, Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.  Not as the world gives do I give to you.  Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” (John 14:27)  Who has taken that peace from us, it is very evident that many are troubled and many are afraid.  Have you considered that most of what you fear is your kingdom coming down, it’s a world kingdom, but the good news is it’s not new, in 1John 2:17 we were told, the world is passing away along with its desires.   Often, very often, I am void of patience, and where patience goes so goes kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. 

Speaking about this battle of Spirit and flesh from a personal view, I often forget it’s not over after one victory, it is a war zone, the enemy knows my flesh, in fact he has a good record of what will draw me to believing I can.  And I can, is the battle!  “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13)  In Christ “I can,” in Bob I can’t and God never said I could.  Christians, it all comes back to loving, we must put no trust in self we must abide in Christ.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice