Love and Believe

21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; 22 and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. 23 And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. 1 John 3:21-23

John tells us the confidence we can have in our salvation comes from obeying God, and he specifically lists one commandment: to believe in the Name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another.

Wait a second! Is that one commandment? It looks like two:
1. Believe
2. Love
But John says it's just one. He's reminding us, his readers (yet again!), that what we believe and what we do are so closely connected that we can't take them apart. What we believe has to come out in the way we act.

Maybe you've noticed this connection between believing and acting in other areas. For example, people with strong feelings about politics can't stop talking about their candidates - and they also like to be with like-minded people or support other related politicians and causes. In the same way, love for God brings together God's people to work together, live in community, and support one another.

Questions for reflection and discussion
1. What makes you want to show love to others?
2. What does believing in Jesus motivate you to do?

Prayer
Dear God, please help me walk the walk! Let me see how what I believe and what I do are connected. Amen.