Why do we love our fellow believers?

"Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him." 1 John 5:1

Do you remember when Jesus asked His disciples: "Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?" (Matt. 16:13)? And when His disciples answered, "Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets" (v. 14), Jesus asked His disciples: "But who do you say that I am?" (v. 15).

What did Peter, speaking for all the disciples, answer? "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God" (v. 16).

Do you see the difference? Most people recognize that Jesus was a great teacher and prophet because of His words and miracles, but only those to whom the Spirit reveals Jesus' true nature and identity recognize Jesus for who He really was and is: "The Christ, the Son of the living God."

As Jesus said to Peter, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven" (v. 17), so it is a true blessing, of God's gracious working, to recognize that Jesus is the promised Messiah (the Christ) and Savior of the world.

And what does John say of love? Those who love their Father in heaven who gave life to them by bringing them to faith in Christ Jesus will also love those begotten of their heavenly Father. They will love their brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus because they recognize that the same God who generated them and gave them faith and life also did so for their fellow believers.

And, such love for our fellow believers is evidence of our rebirth from above -- of our salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, our Lord. We love God when we come to know His love toward us in Jesus Christ and His innocent sufferings and death in our stead. We love our brothers and sisters in Christ because God loves them, too, and gives them salvation for the sake of Jesus.

Reveal to me Jesus as the promised Messiah, Your Son and my Savior, O God. Grant that I see and take hold of Your great love toward me in Jesus, and grant that I also love You in return and love my fellow believers, for Jesus' sake. Amen.

[Devotion by Randy Moll. Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.]