IF WE LOVE GOD WE WILL LOVE HIS CHILDREN

By A. W. Tozer

    The Apostle John makes love for our fellow
Christians to be a test of true faith. "My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him" (1 John 3:18, 19).  Again he says, "Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love" (1John 4:7, 8).

    As we grow in grace we grow in love toward all God's people. "Every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him" (1 John 5:1). This means simply that if we love God, we will love His children.  All true Christian experience will deepen our love for other Christians.

   Therefore we conclude that whatever tends to separate us in person or in heart from our fellow Christians is not of God, but is of the flesh or of the devil.

   And conversely, whatever causes us to love the children of God is likely to be of God. "Your strong love for each other will prove to the world that you are my disciples." (John 13:35).

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Yours in Christ,
Paul N. F.