Good morning everyone,

1 John 4:20–If anyone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen

As Christians we cannot think that love for God means to hold onto it for ourselves while we rob others of experiencing it through us as well. True maturing love for God is not measured by what we personally receive from God, that then gets stifled the moment someone offends us, and we withhold His love or try to make people earn it back.

But true maturing love for God is seen when the presence of His peace and love is covering you, is then given to others to confirm, affirm, and verify that you truly love God and people. Love for God cannot be measured any other way. This is how we love our neighbor as ourselves. No true Christian would say "I don’t want the free grace of forgiveness". As Christians we should desire to be forgiven by God every time we sin, but how vigorous are we to extend another person’s same desire for the free grace of forgiveness from Christ?

The test whether we really are as spiritually mature as we like to think is proven by how we display our Christ-like new nature to others. In our culture individualism is praised, but in the Kingdom to try to only personalize your relationship with God without it being practiced towards other is to never really have confidence that you love God at all, or people for that matter! This is why many times after hearing a sermon or reading our Bible, God will test His Word to us through people, that we prove we love God and people by applying what we heard (Mark 4:17. John 14:15).

Be in tune for God’s test with His Word towards the people you come in contact with, whether you are affirming your love for God or not? Remember our professing love for God as Christians is only relevant if other people see it lived out towards them.

In His Love, Ld