1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. 2 This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. 3 In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, 4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.REFLECTIONSWritten by Jenny GriffinI resonate with that first verse. My daughter is doted on by many and it makes me feel fuzzy inside because I see it as an extension of love towards me. She’s still a bit young to be able to follow my commands but I aim to love her so well that she would want to listen and obey what I say. Not out of fear or obligation… But because she loves me and knows that I love her. Do you feel this way toward God? How much easier should it be to keep His commands because He loves us and is in fact love personified (1 John 4:7-12). He reminds us again that if we know and love God we would follow his commands (1 John 2:3-6). What does God command? “To believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us” (1 John 3:23; 4:20-21). How has he commanded us to love one another? “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters” (1 John 3:16-18). You really can’t miss it when reading 1 John. The whole letter is sandwiched between the exhortation to love God and to love one another in obedience and truth.But what of this ‘overcoming the world’ language? Earlier in the letter, John starts using “the world” synonymously with ungodliness (1 John 2:15-16). He first mentions ‘overcoming the world’ in 1 John 4:4-6 and refers to it again in 4:19-20. Jesus and his truth is greater than Satan and his lies. We have assurance that if we are in Jesus then he is in us and has already overcome the world. We are to keep listening to him and not to falsehood. If we love God the Father we will love the Son and therefore love the truth and obey his commands – his wonderfully light and unburdensome command to love him and love our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.How are you showing your love for God through your love for others this week?ABOUT THE AUTHORJenny is a member of our Fairfield Evening Church.