10^th March 2011

SEEDS FOR HARVESTING 6/7

1 John 4:7
"Beloved, let us love one another."

"Beloved," is the Living Word's name
for each of us who follow Jesus.
Let us not be afraid to use it.
It expresses our unity to God and each other
because He loves all of us who follow Him.
This places our relationship to each other
on a Godly level.
It means that our "beloved" relationship
is different from any other links
we have in this world.
John rightly reminds us that "Love is from God".

Jesus made this love a royal commandment.
"This is My commandment, that you love one another".
Although these words were spoken to the 11 in the Upper Room
before His crucifixion,
they apply to us all.
Jesus knew that the disciples' love for Him and each other
would bind them one to another
and strengthen them in the difficult days ahead.

If the Christian Church, down through the ages,
had taken seriously this commandment of Jesus
it would not be in such a divided state as it is today.

Paul says
"nor any other created thing shall be able
to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus".
What a joyful thought it is
to be convinced there is nothing
in God's creation
that can separate us from His love.

Bob Imms 6.3.11