The Return of the Comeback Kid

    There is a clear criterion by which we may see for ourselves whether we know God.  We find our responses to others show whether we daily practice making our way back to God and are living for Him. 1 John 2:8,9 “...as we obey this commandment to love one another, the darkness in our lives disappears and the new light of life in Christ shines in.  Anyone who says he is walking in the light of Christ but dislikes his fellow man, is still in darkness.”  It’s so easy for a little darkness to creep into our lives.  After all the culture we live among is dark indeed.  But Christ has clearly stated that in Him is no darkness at all.  1 John 3:18 “Little children, let us stop just saying we love people, let us really love them, and show it by our actions.  The love He gives is our declaration of God to the church and to the world.  Whether we love our brothers and sisters in Christ is deeply revealing and affects even our prayers.  1 John 3:21 “...if our consciences are clear, we can come to the Lord with perfect assurance and trust, and get whatever we aks for because we are obeying him and doing the things that please Him.  And this is what God says we must do.  Believe on the name of His son Jesus Christ and love one another.”  A Christian will be warm, caring, concerned for others, having sympathy for others in difficult times, cultivating friendship, eternally kind, having the best part of love which is liking others, and enjoying them.  We are to be dedicated to the fellowship of the brethren and to the “everyone is my neighbor” principle.  We all need to embrace the Biblical Christ-like standard of love.  God is made real through love.  1 John 4:20,21 “...if he doesn’t love his brother who is right there in front of him, how can he love God whom he has never seen?  And God himself has said that one must love not only God, but his brother too.”  And last of all we practice love because “...when we love each other God lives in us and his love within us grows ever stronger.” 1 John 4:12b In the end we have recognized we are all Comeback Kids returning to God.  Day by day we are leaving behind the person we used to be to become like the person of Christ.