1 John 3:14-15 – “We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death.”  NKJV

 

I would suggest that reading verses 1-15 would be beneficial before continuing in this devotional.  Now that you have read the foundational verses I would suggest that it is the expressed desire of our Lord that we be one (UNITED), and live together in harmony and peace (UNITY) in the Body of Christ.  That is evidenced in Jesus’ prayer in John 17:21 – “…that they may be one…”

AGAPE LOVE unifies, builds up and strengthens.  It pulls down walls, barriers, and strongholds.  It opens the door for the move of God’s Holy Spirit in our lives, homes, businesses, schools, churches, and world.  God wants UNITY in the Body and the devil wants DISCORD and DISUNITY.  God sends His love to HEAL and the devil sends his hate and deception to KILL.  God wants love to RULE our hearts and the devil wants hate, bitterness and unforgiveness to RULE.  It is not difficult to see that this is a matter of opposites or “Life vs Death.”

TRUTHS TO REMEMBER: 

• All born-again people constitute the Body of Christ.
• God extends fellowship to ALL believers.
• The basis of fellowship is LIFE not OPINION.

             If we are saved we are family, and family is more important than opinions or preferences.  We love one another, and people who love each other would never intentionally hurt each other.  Hurts will come but they are not intentional.  In Christ we are free to love!  However, the problem is that too often we focus on ‘externals’ and miss what God is doing. Tragically many become entrapped by the devil’s delusions and allow schisms to be created in the Body against the directive and desire of God.

One of the greatest purposes of the Church is to bring people into contact with the Gospel that they might be made whole.  The reason the church is in the world is to minister salvation to people.  The word ‘salvation’ in its broadest sense means ‘to bring wholeness.’  It is interchangeable with healing. The Gospel does more than just cleanse the soul it heals and makes whole.  It is more than just forgiveness it is restoration to fellowship and wholeness.  We become partakers of His divine nature and are complete in Him and only in Him.

The Church should be more like a hospital than a museum.  People come who need salvation, healing, and wholeness in every area of their lives. That can only happen if they feel free enough to risk opening themselves up to us and the gospel.  That will not happen until AGAPE LOVE is in force and we give them some guarantees by our words, deeds, and actions.

• They need to know that they will be loved REGARDLESS.
• They need to know that they will be accepted WITHOUT RESERVATION.
• They need to know that they will receive UNRESERVED FORGIVENESS. 

No matter how miserably they fail or how blatantly they sin, they will receive unreserved and unrestricted forgiveness it is theirs for the asking.  Consider the words of the text:  “We know we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers.  Any who does not love remains in death.”  The key evidence we are Children of God is our LOVE for other believers.  We are to love the brothers/sisters – – ALL OF THEM and that’s both frightening and liberating.

I want to say a little more on this but will hit the pause button until the next post.  May the Lord be with you and help you Love as He loves as you journey through this maze we call life!  Blessings!