Evaluating Your Love

Are all loves equal? You may love a certain food, sports team, song, your children, parents, or spouse, but you probably do not love them all equally. What we love and who we love says a lot about us. It reveals our priorities, values, and commitments, whether good or bad. What we love also says a great deal about the authenticity of our testimony as a follower of Christ.   

There was a group in the first century known as the gnostics who boasted of their superior knowledge of Christ. John wrote a letter to challenge their claim. In 1 John 2:3-6, he challenged the validity of their claim to secret knowledge over having personal experiential knowledge. A valid faith should also be evidenced in a life of obedience. 

This Sunday, we will be looking at 1 John 2:7-14. True Christ followers who are walking in the light not only obey God's commands, but they also love as Jesus loves. By contrast, those who hate reveal that they are lying to themselves about being in the light. If you hate your brother, you are deceived and walking in darkness. 

How deeply have you evaluated your love?