The Daily Fountain Devotional Sunday, October 16, 2022
The Daily Fountain Devotional Sunday, October 16, 2022
Sunday, October 16,2022 (Eighteenth Sunday after Trinity)
TOPIC: LOVE IN ACTION
TEXT: 1 John 4:18-5:1-5
18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. 19 We love him, because he first loved us. 20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? 21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.
1 John 5:1-5
1 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. 4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
The Daily Fountain Devotional Sunday, October 16, 2022
INTRODUCTION TEXT
John, in today's lesson, dwells on fear. This fear which he speaks of is not the reverential fear by which Christians have deep respect for God. Rather he speaks of the fear of vengeful masters who seek to punish with a whip. But, those who willingly obey God do not fear Him as an angry God who seeks to punish, but rather fear Him as a loving father who seeks to save the obedient. So, those who complete God's love through their loving response need not fear the punishment that God has reserved for the disobedient. In actual fact, obedient love casts out fear of retribution from God.
Therefore, one's knowledge of God's love by which led Him to offer Jesus Christ as an atonement for human sins on the cross must stimulate a loving response to God. Again, what John speaks about is the love that acts; that is, there should be no inactive love in one's relationship with God. The love by which God loves us, if it does not stimulate love of our brothers, cannot claim to come from God; that is, one cannot claim to love God without loving his brother.
Brethren, no one claims to love God and hate his brother. Love is not in word or being a church worker. It should reflect in our dealings with people around us; that is, those who come in contact with us. Note, no matter the level of love you show to people, it cannot compare with the love God has shown to us. The scripture establishes that it is God who first loved us (v.19). Don't forget what Jesus said, "For I was hungry and you gave Me food;..." (Matt. 25:35-44). It is expected you show love to all.
Prayer: Lord, give me the grace to always display your love at all time. Amen.