1 John 4: 7-8
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.
As Christians, born of God, love is in our spiritual DNA. Love distinguishes us as followers of Christ. We must endeavour to love one another. In loving one another, we must learn to bear each other's burdens.
Galatians 6:1-2
Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.
Jesus gave us His Law in John 13:34
So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.
We must be concerned about each other. There are many people who are aching and hurting. There are people who are broken, and feel terrible. Some are struggling with bad sinful habits, others are in financial crises, with no money to even travel to church. There are Christians and non- Christians having serious marital problems. Some are quietly suffering from domestic violence. There are parents with wayward kids, and on and on and on.
People carry different problems as burdens. Some burdens are too heavy to carry alone, and that is why we need to be concerned about one another, and bear each other's burdens. When the Saviour was on His way to Calvary, the cross was too heavy for Him to carry, so He was offered help - Matthew 27:32 Now as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name. Him they compelled to bear His cross.
Show an act of love to someone suffering. In Mark 2 : 1-4, we see a clear example of how four men showed love to a paralysed man. They carried him to Jesus. They were faced with hindrances, but persevered in love - they had to even bear the cost of damage made to another's roof.
These four men were determined to help the paralysed man, and therefore helped to carry his burden. In the same light, we ought to help carry the burdens of others by bringing them to Jesus - Jesus is the answer, so always bring them to Him. You can do so in prayer, as well as by bringing the Word of God to them.
We must love people enough to go the long haul to help them, in spite of the difficulties and persecutions we may face.
When Satan desired to sift Peter like wheat, Jesus prayed for Him. Jesus helped to carry Peter's burden. Luke 22: 31- 32 “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. 32 But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.”
Be alert and sensitive to the needs of others. 1 John 4:7-10 says Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.
Verse 17 adds And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world.
Living in love is what qualifies us as followers of Christ. Choose love, choose Jesus, choose eternal life!
WHAT IS NEXT?
