By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Yesterday’s devotion ended this way.
“In my past there have been discussions about love being the target and our obedience is the aim and release of our arrow, the cupid concept. Since the small red center of the target is perfect love then hitting anywhere on the target is acceptable even if we don’t hit the red bullseye.
Allow me to use that analogy to help our aim. Get closer to the target.”
The issue of fellowship isn’t just that we need to love one another but to show the world that our differences do not diminish our ability to love one another as Jesus loves us. It is a demonstration of affection which attracts unbelievers to Jesus, not us.
James 4:1 What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you?
James begins this chapter with the right words and then examples the worst traits of man which many of us have already overcome. Murder, covetousness, adultery, and rebellion are not part of our lives but then he quotes an issue that goes to the core of the problems that lay hidden in fellowship.
Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”?
Within my soul there is the awareness that just because He dwells in me, it is even more obvious I am not like Him in similitude. I judge myself and in doing so, I judge everyone that is like me, perfectly human and imperfectly holy.
That is the lie of the enemy. We are not here to change one another but rather to draw closer in order to love one another better today than we did yesterday. Each step of faith is a forward progression towards being closer to Jesus and because of His indwelling, closer to one another.
The lost can only see Jesus in us if we can see Jesus in one another. Jesus was all about reaching out to the lost and He has not changed in His attempt to love them. He just does it through us now. Our pettiness blocks that vision for the lost. They will never be attracted to Jesus when we quarrel among ourselves.
Being right isn’t righteousness.