"Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments" 1 John 5:1-2.
God, who delights in His people (Psalm 149:4), teaches His children to love and esteem one another. It has been hard for me to believe that my sisters and brothers in the faith love me, but it's true; they love me because God gave them loving hearts.
What about the grumpy believers who criticize and judge? Well, like all of us, they haven't yet completely become who they are. Sounds like flawed logic, but Hebrews 10:14 says, "by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified." Christians on earth are still growing into the righteousness that they've been given; therefore they show love imperfectly. Nonetheless, the God who is love lives in them.
Some of my perfectionist tendencies have been driven by the fear of being rejected by other Christians. But I'm beginning to see that rejecting others is not a normal thing for Christians to do. Believing this takes away my fear. This is a huge, lifechanging breakthrough for me!!
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