Scripture: 1 John 4 v 6 - 11: "We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another."
The people of the world do not know the One True God, our Father. They are estranged from Him. They do not believe in His love for all His created people. Their best expression of love is lust and it consumes them.
There is a song that says it well:
What the world needs now is love, sweet love
It's the only thing that there's just too little of
What the world needs now is love, sweet love
No not just for some, but for everyone
Lord, we don't need another mountain
There are mountains and hillsides enough to climb
There are oceans and rivers enough to cross
Enough to last 'til the end of time.
God is LOVE. That is His nature and the nature of the Trinity. Love, love, love for eternity. His love is so far above our very best ability to love but we must endeavour to be perfect in love. It means conquering our flesh combined with the power of the world.
Satan has so many ways of beguiling our minds. He was created a musical being. He has control over the human race through music. All the beautiful love songs that become instant hits evoke a response in our souls. A soulish, emotional love that can crush us when it fades to nothing.
We build our dreams around love songs and some become nightmares because the Puppet master is Satan pulling the strings. The world is in his power. The people have no knowledge of his control. The Prophet Hosea says, My people perish for lack of knowledge.
In the seven letters to the Churches that Jesus gave to the Apostle John in Revelation 2 and 3, we are urged to overcome Satan and his evil ways, and shown the consequences if we fail. Please read all seven letters carefully and check your own lives that all these things have been overcome.
God's love comes when we are truly born again and filled with the Holy Spirit. We walk in the light having put away and overcome the world and our fleshly demands. This is a process and will take time. We cannot serve God and Mammon. Mammon is the world.
God and Mammon are complete opposites. God is steadfast in love, faithfulness, fairness, truth, honour and commitment to us. His Love sent His Son to take our sins upon Himself. Greater love than this has no man - to lay down His life for His friends. God does not change His mind. Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever.
Jesus showed us the love of His Father in everything He did. Miracles, healing, deliverance, compassion, anger at hypocrisy, and the wonderful teaching He gave His followers. We reflect His love to the world when we love them but do not love their sins.
Mammon is the Satanic world system that brings fear, war, sickness, death and misery. It is sexually permissive and indifferent to truth and righteousness. It has thousands of religions and many gods, all demonic.
It has fractured the church into denominations with their own beliefs and traditions. Everything these sects have added to or subtracted from the Word of God has caused division. Jesus wants a United Body. We must be in one mind and in agreement to bring unity. We must love one another as He loves us.
The Church is in crisis when it compromises with the world. We are not called to be politically correct but to be uncompromising regarding the truth. If we are walking in truth and light then those who love God will hear us and know the difference between truth and error. Those who are struggling under worldly love cannot see the errors of their ways.
So let us examine our hearts in this holy light to ensure that our love is pure and undefined by the world. Because this pure love is pleasing to our Father and He will bless it. Let us love each other in the truth without shame and causing hurt to others. This light will shine brightly into the darkness so many can be saved.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, we are shocked when we realise our love lacks Your purity. Change us our Lord to conform to Your holy standards so that our lives may reflect Your glory. Unite us in Your love and compassion. In Jesus' name. Amen.