1 John 4:16

We have come to know (by personal observation and experience), and have believed (with deep, consistent faith) the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides continually in him.  

God does not force us to be saved or love Him. God gives us the choice by showing His love for us through the example of others and our experience. Love is not just an emotion but a decision of how we will behave and believe. When we choose love, we leave strife, anger, vengeance, and sin behind. We decide to follow the example of God.

1 John 4:7-8

Beloved, let us (unselfishly) love and seek the best for one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves (others) is born of God and knows God (through personal experience).

The Bible says, “Love suffers long and is kind.” When we love each other, we accept the imperfection that exists in us all. The fears, insecurities, impatience, and exhaustion motivate our actions and reactions to those around us. The kindness born out of love goes hand in hand with the love walk because love is kind when it is genuine. 

1 John 4:6 

We (who teach God’s Word) are from God (energized by the Holy Spirit), and whoever knows God (through personal experience) listens to us (and has a deeper understanding of Him). Whoever is not of God does not listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth (motivated by God) and the spirit of error (motivated by Satan).

John recognizes that sound preaching comes from a place of guidance by the Holy Spirit. And those who know God through salvation recognize sound preaching and are not swayed by false teachings and opinions against the knowledge and Word of God. We are to keep our minds sound through the Word and let wisdom found in the Bible keep us clear of error.

1 John 4:5

They (who teach twisted doctrine) are of the world and belong to it; therefore they speak from the (viewpoint of the) world (with its immoral freedom and baseless theories-demanding compliance with their opinions and ridiculing the values of the upright). And the (gullible one of the) world listens closely and pays attention to them. 

The world throws a volume of lies and deception at us through all forms of media and communication—our best guard against the twisted and false doctrine in the knowledge of the Word. When we renew the mind, we need to read and repeat reading. We don’t want to be gullible and accept what is communicated.  

Luke 24:44

Then He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you, everything which has been written about Me in the Law of Moses and the (writings of the) Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled. 

Jesus will help us understand what is written about Him in the Bible. When we ask and seek Jesus for wisdom, He will enable us to comprehend the purpose of His life and ours. Jesus is the cornerstone to our salvation and the ability to live victorious lives.

Psalm 32:1-2

Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven and whose sin is covered. Blessed the man to whom the Lord does not impute wickedness, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.

Praise the Lord for Jesus coming and washing away our sins! Sin burdens the soul and sears the consciousness to the point where sin is not recognized. When Jesus washed away our sins, He washed away the burden, freeing our souls to live a Godly life. We aim to renew our minds and hearts open to Jesus moving in our lives.

Proverbs 8:12

I, (godly) wisdom, reside with prudence (good judgment, moral courage and astute common sense), and I find knowledge and discretion. The (reverent) fear and worship awe of the Lord includes hatred of evil; pride and arrogance and the evil way, and the perverted mouth, I hate.

How do we get wisdom? We ask God for it, and He will give us knowledge. We read the Word, learning from the good and bad examples of behavior. Right and wrong seem simple, but when sin enters the thoughts and heart, the decisions will no longer be Godly. Cast down any thought that does not align with God’s Word.

Isaiah 10:1-2

Woe (judgment is coming) to those (judges) who issue evil statutes, and to those (magistrates) who constantly record unjust and oppressive decisions, to deprive the needy of justice and rob the poor of My people of rightful claims, so that widows be their spoil and that they may plunder the fatherless. 

Evil exists in this world, and the Lord does not miss the deeds of evildoers. Judgment is coming, and God is not mocked. We must trust the Lord in uncertain and oppressive times because God is in control. The world’s wickedness is not surprising to God, and God prophesized it’s coming.

Proverbs 13:1

A wise son heeds and accepts (and is the result of) his father’s discipline and instruction, but a scoffer does not listen to reprimand and does not learn from his errors.

Accepting discipline and instruction is the cornerstone of gaining knowledge and wisdom. Without wisdom (God) teaching us right from wrong, knowing when we have erred would be impossible. A reprimand isn’t wrong when taken with the right attitude. A reprimand keeps us from continuing in sin and losing out on the blessings of God.  

1 Peter 3:8-9

Finally, all of you be like-minded (united in spirit), sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted and humble in spirit; and never return evil for evil or insult for insult (avoid scolding, berating and any kind of abuse), but on the contrary, give a blessing for you have been called for this very purpose, that you might inherit a blessing (from God that brings well-being, happiness, and protection).

Our behavior when we come into conflict with others matters. No matter what is said to us or about us, we are still to follow the leadings of Jesus. Love suffers long and is kind to others while it goes through trials. It may take practice, and we may only sometimes get it right, but with the help of the Holy Spirit, we can. We can’t give up in times of trial and behave as the world.