Love One Another
A family embodies something special and unique, which is love.
For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.
I John 3:11
As a youth, when you argued with someone who was getting the best of you and wanted to elevate the argument to a level that would defeat him in the eyes of your peers, all you needed to say were two words. These two words were fighting words, although I didn't use them (Yeah, right)! I knew that when they were used, it was time to take the argument outside. When you heard “Your Mama,” you knew that whoever said it wanted to escalate the situation into a physical confrontation.
In the writings of the Apostle John, he emphasizes a crucial driving focus that we must all possess: love for the family of God. Throughout our youth, this love began with your mother and extended to the rest of the family. How important is it to demonstrate love toward your family? Imagine a patient who claims to have the flu but shows no symptoms. A doctor would respond, “You don’t have the flu.” Similarly, the ultimate “symptom” or evidence of your vertical intimacy with God is your horizontal love for His family. Love is the decision to compassionately, righteously, and responsibly seek the well-being of another. When we, as youth, heard the phrase “Your Mama,” it instilled a responsibility to defend, regardless of the outcome. As believers, we must seek the same response to aid our fellow believers.
Love is essential for spiritual growth because it reflects our connection to God. Yet, we cannot express that love unless we demonstrate it. By genuinely caring for others, we cultivate virtues such as empathy, patience, and forgiveness, which God demonstrates toward us through His Son, Jesus. Therefore, if we notice a hindrance in receiving answers to our prayers, we must examine our actions toward God’s family. When you show love to others and strive to answer their prayers, you can trust that your Father will set things in motion to respond to your prayers according to His will. This reciprocal relationship with God through His family will lead us to a more fulfilling and purpose-driven life.
Now, I implore you to meet the prayers of your fellow believers and watch what happens in your life.
