Beloved, we love God because
he first loved us.
If anyone says, “I love God,”
but hates his brother, he is a liar;
for whoever does not love a brother whom he has seen
cannot love God whom he has not seen.
This is the commandment we have from him:
Whoever loves God must also love his brother.
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is begotten by God,
and everyone who loves the Father
loves also the one begotten by him.
In this way we know that we love the children of God
when we love God and obey his commandments.
For the love of God is this,
that we keep his commandments.
And his commandments are not burdensome,
for whoever is begotten by God conquers the world.
And the victory that conquers the world is our faith.
Why would anyone not embrace this relationship with God. In a world of struggle and chaos and conflict there can also be peace and joy and love.
We can live as children of God, with love to guide us and our faith in Jesus Christ.
What else would anyone put their faith in? Who else first loved us before we were born? Who else came to be with us and died for us.
Faith and trust in anyone or thing else is foolish. For other people are like us, we can fail to always do what we should, even sometimes to love as we should.
But God never fails to love us and waits for us always to turn away from the world and place ourselves in his hands. With faith in God this world cannot defeat us. With faith in God, we can overcome. In fact, with faith in God our struggles will only deepen our resolve and faith. Attacks will grow our love and trust as we see the one God always ready to help us and send his Spirit to guide us.
Life can be difficult. Why would anyone want to journey through this world without a faith in God that assures victory?
Deacon Tony Pynes 
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