Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us. – 1 John 4:11-12 (NLT)

So often when someone speaks of love, other Christians tend not to pay as close attention as they might when covering other subjects. Why is that? Do we think the topic too simple — or perhaps that it is an area of our lives that we have covered well enough?

Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God.  But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love. – 1 John 4:7-8 (NLT)

I looked through various Study Bible notes and can’t really find anything more to add to what is already written in God’s Word. Here’s what I know: I can and do fall short quite often in the area of loving other people. I am thankful to God that He never falls short in His love for me! I am better at it as time goes on, solely the work of the Holy Spirit within me accomplishing any growth. It is a slow process leaving the carnal man behind and marching down the road of union with my Lord. If we as Christians will all strive for a more perfect union with Christ, can you imagine how much better this fallen world would be?

I need to remember on a daily basis not to hide the light.

I posted this on my main blog at dcwillis.com and thought it appropriate to share it here, as well:

Godliness makes a nation great, but sin is a disgrace to any people. -Proverbs 14:34 (NLT)

This brief post is designed to wish the reader the very happiest of July 4th holidays. Although we live in the most disturbing of times  — which seem to have seen the decline of America into some immoral cesspool where everything goes and the sky is the limit for sinful behavior, I still feel the presence of God’s people and hope the Church can rise to the occasion. The word ‘repent’ means to change one’s mind or have some regret for a course that somebody has been on. America must repent from the course we’ve been on in order to survive and return to being a great nation. History is replete with accounts of once-great groups of people who have turned from God and faced dire consequences. Is it really God causing harm and suffering — or is it the fact that we deny God’s protection from the enemy when we choose to live outside of fellowship with Him? If we search our hearts in all earnestness, I believe we know the answer.

America was founded as a Christian nation. The idea of ‘separation of church and state’ is a myth that was started many years ago. You will not find that in the constitution of any of its amendments. We need to get back to the roots our founding fathers established so we can once again take our position as a global leader in freedom and morality. It needs to begin with turning back to God.

Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land. -2 Chronicles 7:14 (NLT)