Chapter 2 vers 15-17 talks about setting limits on our love. We are to love people but not the world. These scriptures ring so true. When we love the world we often can't make clear choices and may find ourselves in a compromised posture, serving two masters. We are reminded that loving the world offers a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see and pride in our acheivements. These things are not from the Father but from the world. These words struck me and if you really think honestly about them, the world draws attention to such things and desires. Soon we find ourselves on a course of craving. I have a new saying that I never need anything from Best Buy until I walk into one THEN, I need many things. A month ago, I went into one of those stores and just had to have an ipad. A couple days later, I had charged $700.00 and had a new shiny electronic jewel. Two days later, I returned it, realizing I had absolutely no need for it and certainly did not need to charge $700.00. Lesson learned.
Having pride in what we do? Well, I must have said a hundred times that I want to be proud of myself. Why does that seem to be so important? I don't have a great answer to that but maybe if we are chasing something that will make us proud of ourselves, we can miss where we are truly supposed to go.
Chapter three tells us that God loves us so much that He calls us His children. Now that is awesome. God, the Creator, the one who hung the stars in the sky and put the planets in their place calls us His children! You can't feel any better about yourself than that, even that job that I was seeking so that I could be proud of myself.
Down to verse 11, AGAIN, we are told to love one another. If we are not living as we are supposed to, we are dead. Our heart and that which is within us is dead. If we are alive in Christ, we can't help but love others just as He did. Jesus example was an example of what real love looks like. He took our burdens, our sins upon Himself and was punished for all of them. Because He loved us, He laid down His life for those He loved. His example shows us that we should give up our lives for one another. Jesus literally gave His life for us. While we may not be asked to die, we can give up our lives by giving others our time, talents and effort. When someone has a need, or if there is someone who can benefit from you giving your time, that is setting your life aside to help them. In a sense, giving up your life is to set aside your wants and desires to be of help to another person.
Here is a big point, don't just say you love others, do something about it. Let you actions back up your words. Show what real love is as best you can.
Chapter four tells us to love one another again. It tells us that if we do, we are children of God. When we are little, we learn so much of who we become from our parents. We often joke about the fact that as we get older, we act more and more like our parents. If we are of God, we will love what and how He loves. God loves us so much, he sacrificed His son. Don't waste that sacrifice by not loving each other. Making that wonderful sacrifice should energize us to love each other. He loved us so much that He gave what was precious so that we would be saved. Now because of that, we are to love just as much. All the way through chapter 4, we are taught over and over to love one another. God would not have made such an effort to teach us to love if it wasn't important to him. Remember what Jesus said were the two greatest commandments? Love God and love your neighbor. If we are to be identified as children of God, loving others must be a part of it. The end of chapter four spells it out simply and powerfully. If we can't love the people right in front of us, if we can't love our friends, families, kids, neighbors and anyone else who we can touch and talk to, how can we honestly say we can love God? How can we love God whom we cannot see or touch? The Bible tells us we can't. In fact, it calls such a person a liar. If we truly love the Father, we cannot help but love His children. Yes, even the guy next door who practices his drumming when you want to read.
One of the Beatles, George Harrison has spoken on this subject. When he was in the hospital in his bed he managed to speak out to his wife and child. His last words to them were
"love each other". His words to his wife and son spread like wild fire and all those who shed their tears at his death were so moved by his instruction to his family, that they adopted his advice. His words became words that seemed personally meant for everyone.
If you listen closely, can you imagine Jesus giving us instruction as He breathed his last breath on the cross? Can you hear Him saying that we should love each other? How do we best honor His life, death and resurrection? Love one another.
We are going to be doing the next 30 day study on 1 Peter. We will start March 1 and end March 31. There is much in 1 Peter and as always keep looking for instruction on loving.