"God's Criteria for Loving Him"

Scripture: "And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother." -1 John 4:21, NIV

Within the world we live in on today, most of the jobs available on the market has certain criteria. If you intend on working at a hospital as a doctor, your criterion may include graduating from med school, had experience working within a hospital, cordial to patients, etc. If you intend on becoming a superstar basketball player, your criterion may include having a decent dribble, being able to score, being able to play defense, and demonstrate your athletic ability that makes you and only you a worthwhile investment. If we cut the grass short enough, we even have criteria for our spouses, mates, and perspective mates or spouses. In the case of my ladies, you want a man who will cater to you, provide for the house, cover you in prayer, be a God-fearing man, and other things. In the case of my men, you want a woman who respects you, loves you for you, be the help-meet you need, pray for you, balance you out, and other things. I am encouraged on today because our Heavenly Father did not have criteria for us to join His family. All He told us was to confess with our mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in our heart that Christ rose from the dead, then we would be saved (Romans 10:9). Today, God allows us to know that there's a simple criteria for loving Him and our text will expound upon this point.

Today's main scripture is located in the book of 1 John. The author of this book, the Apostle John, also wrote 2 John, 3 John, and the Gospel account according to John. This book was written approximately between 85 - 95 A.D. Scholars reveal the purpose of 1 John was to set boundaries on the content of faith and to give believers assurance of their salvation. Within this fourth chapter, the Apostle John deals with how you should test spirits (verses 1 - 6) and discusses God's love and our love (verses 7 - 21). Within the last theme is where we draw our topic and obtain clarity on God's criteria for loving Him.

Our text simply says, "And He has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother". From the days of the Ten Commandments to the Apostle John, God has been preaching through His many vessels about love. He tells us that we ought to love our God, with all of our heart, soul, and mind, and the second is like unto it that you should love your neighbor as yourself. When you demonstrate and give love, then you have accomplished the other nine commandments. Jesus even tells us that if we are a follower of Him that we ought to love our brothers. Scripture also reminds us of God posing the question, "How can you love me whom you never seen before, but hate your brother who you see daily?" Through this one text, He has gave us His only criteria for loving Him: If you love God, you must also love your brother! We cannot preach the Gospel and yet not show the sinner man love! We cannot teach God's Word and yet do not know how to encourage our brother along the way! We cannot sing God's melodies and yet not help our fellow man in their time of need. We cannot proclaim to be Christians (Christ-like) and yet not display His characteristics! When Jesus lived on this Earth, He did not discriminate. He hung around His disciples, but He also met with the prostitutes, He also cared about people who were not from His own race, He even talked with the "big dawgs" in the area of the Pharisees and the Sadducees. At the end of the day, Christ loved everyone and if He loved everyone, why can't we?

In closing, criteria is good to separate the right ones from the wrong ones for a particular job, assignment, or relationship. I bless the Father on today that He only gave us one criteria for loving Him and that's to love our brothers and sisters! For those who are reading, if no one else tells you that they love you, I love you with the love of God! May His blessings continue to find you!