February 16

1 Thessalonians 3:12

And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:

All the separate attributes of God have been summed up by John the apostle. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for GOD IS LOVE. 1 John 4:8. How do we know that God loves us? “Herein is love, NOT THAT WE LOVED GOD, but that HE loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation, (satisfaction, or payment) for our sins”. 1 John 4:10. From contemplating God’s love for us, John is inspired to say, “Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.” If you are TRULY a Son of God, you will have spontaneous affection and love toward others, especially your Christian brothers. If you don’t, you know not God, according to 1 John 4:8 above. Do you rejoice when someone comes to Christ? Are you genuinely uplifted and glad when you see fellow Christians walking in the light and serving Christ from the heart? “IF WE LOVE ONE ANOTHER, GOD DWELLETH IN US, AND HIS LOVE IS PERFECTED IN US.” 1 John 4:12. If you would like to give yourself a blessing, read this 4th chapter of 1 John and go to God and open your heart to Him.

Commentary by Francis L. Harris

"...what must I do to be saved?" Acts 16:30