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"   1 John 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. "By this shall all men know
        that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another"
       John 13:35.
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        Yours in Christ,
        Paul N. F.