This post is Day 22 in a series of studies about “1 John”. I strongly suggest you begin with the introduction to this study, please click here to read it.

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1 John – Day 22

In Matthew Jesus answers a Pharisee explaining that the greatest commandment is to love the Lord your God with all you heart, with all your soul and with all your mind. The Israelites wandering in the desert had great difficulty doing that. It is not much easier for us today.

1 John 4:7-8

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

The Thought

This sounds so simple, but the meaning must be much deeper that it appears. I have met lots of loving people who are not believers in Jesus and therefore cannot “know God” as this verse suggests. It is just their nature to be nice. But maybe I am not digging deep enough if I think that way.

In Matthew 22:37 Jesus answers the question of a Pharisee explaining that the greatest commandment is to “love the Lord your God with all you heart, with all your soul and with all your mind”. A direct quote from Moses in Deuteronomy 6:5. The Israelites wandering in the desert had great difficulty doing that, and it is not much easier for us today.

The key to success is given above and it is in knowing God. Being familiar with Him, having such a close relationship that we can hear His voice at any moment, and allowing Him to love others through us.

As we learn to love God more, and consequently live in a closer relationship with Him we will be able to love others more. We will know what to say, how to help, how to pray, because everything we do will be inspired through that relationship with Him.

Action

Ask yourself today how well you “know God”. How familiar are you with Him?

Try chatting to Him today as you go about your daily tasks. Remind yourself regularly that He knows your every thought. Ask Him to deepen your relationship and help you love Him more.

Pray that today you will be an instrument of His love, blessing somebody you meet.