We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. Whoever says, "I know him," but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did."
1 John 2:3-6 NIV
How do live a Jehoshua (Jesus) did? How do we walk as Jehoshua, (Jesus) walked? When we follow someone footsteps, we walk in his path. Walking the same path as someone who came before you, is living a life not unlike someone who you have modeled your life after, someone who you look up to, someone who has mentored you, someone who has loved you. A son or daughter, might follow a father or mother into the same profession. Very often, the children of doctors become doctors. The children of teachers, become teachers, the children or preachers become preachers, the children of singers become singers.
However, walking in someone's path is much more than following a profession. More importantly it is about character, morals, faith, love and hate. Our children very often become who we are, if not in profession, in character. The reason why hatred persists in our world, is because we pass down our bad characters, our bad morals, our lack of true faith, and our hate to our children and to our children's children.
On our own we are unable to break this cycle. As we are reminding of hateful things, the dams of hate wells up the streams of resentment until it overflows with evil. We cannot break this cycle on our own, but with God all things are possible.
How do we break this cycle? We break this cycle by living as Jesus did.
How do we live as Jehoshua lived? by our love for God. How do we know that we have love for God? "We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands." 1John 2:3" NIV. What are his commands? That we love our fellow man.
"Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness. Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble. But anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them." 1 John 2:9-11 NIV
All around us we see the blind leading the blind, claiming to speak wisdom, but, in fact, speaks hate, teaches folly and lives a life of darkness. The Word of God reminds us daily that Christ's command is for you to live a life of light, a light of love for one another, and love for God. "The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever." 1 John 2:17.
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