11/04/2011 - LOVING IS ABIDING BY THE COMMANDMENTS

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“The Elder, to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth” (III John 1. 1)

The Elder John wrote a letter to Gaius in which he calls him beloved – and he really felt it for he loved him in truth. That’s the way we must serve God and love our brethren because if we don’t do that, we’ll end up taking responsibility for failing to love them.

John was one of the most important disciples of the Lord. The son of thunder (Mark 3:17) had the pleasure to be the closest one to our Master to the point of leaning on His bosom (John 13:23); yet, he called himself the Elder because he was a servant of the Most High. He was undoubtedly a real apostle; yet, because he didn’t live in our days the title of apostle – which is coveted by so many people today – didn’t cross his mind then. The lesson we learn from that episode is that we don’t need to enforce our rights; God Himself is the One who’s in charge of that.

Who was the beloved Gaius actually? Well, he was a brother in Christ. John learned from Jesus that the treatment the Heavens give to us is personal. Though there are millions of others similar to us in the Body of Christ, our Father relates to us and also refers to us as one person. In fact, our calling is personal, our Ministry is unique and the attention we get from the Most High is also personalized. Each one of us is of the utmost importance in the eyes of the Almighty God, who’s never too busy to answer us individually.

John was an eye witness of Jesus’ teachings. He knew that the new commandment brought by our Master was the following: that you love one another (John 13:34). Yet, such feeling was not supposed to be sinful or calculated; on the contrary, it had to be the same love we feel towards God: true love. How many brothers would have lost communion with the Lord if they hadn’t banned Satan from messing up with the true love they should’ve had for their sisters?

Well, we’re really serving the Lord when we truly love someone without self-interest. So, my brethren, how are you demonstrating your love to the other members of the Body of Christ? Have you respected each one of the as servants of the Most High or are you expecting the moment when something wrong will happen among you?

It’s important to point out that, on the Day of Judgment, we’ll be accounted for the love towards the members of the Church of the Lord as well as for failing to love them. So, if you say you love your brother when you don’t really mean it, you should be careful not to carry on pretending! Don’t show love just to obtain something from your brother. Ponder on whether you really love him or if you pretend to love him just, for example, to be invited to a party and to have meals at his house. Those who really love someone don’t behave dishonestly.

When we abide by the divine commandments we wish all the best for our brothers and sisters in Christ and the lost ones are impacted by the silent message our attitudes convey. However, the opposite is also true: those who still haven’t accepted Jesus will stay away from Him if they think there’s something fake in our gesture of love. Here lies a great danger: we’ll be held accountable for the loss of these souls!

My brethren, may your love for God and for your neighbor be always genuine.

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares