When we believe in the Good News and became Christians, we are expected to keep the commandments, and the greatest commandment is to love. This means that we cannot pick and choose what suits or benefits us, but we need to be genuine in love for God and neighbour. John in today’s reading reminds us: “To love is to live according to his commandments: this is the commandment which you have heard since the beginning, to live a life of love.” Of course, it is not easy to live a life of love, since it may seem easier to love God than to love others, but this is what we are required to do, no ifs, buts or exceptions.
In an effort to live according to his commandments, we should also be cautious about various so-called teachings we hear from others, especially from the social media or the internet. John warns us: “There are many deceivers about in the world, refusing to admit that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh. They are the Deceiver; they are the Antichrist. Watch yourselves, or all our work will be lost and not get the reward it deserves. If anybody does not keep within the teaching of Christ but goes beyond it, he cannot have God with him: only those who keep to what he taught can have the Father and the Son with them.” Some people utter teachings which seem contrary or somewhat different to what Jesus taught, especially because they have picked and chosen what they want or like to hear or what suits them, and refused to admit the truth. When we are faced with such a situation, we should not blindly agree to what they have said, even though they may be so called persons of authority or importance. This is where our faith needs to have reason; and we should make every effort to understand our faith better through the various courses available to us, so that we would not be so easily duped by certain others.
We are asked to love, just as God loved us, but our love should be in accordance to God’s commandments, not according to the teachings of some folks who try to distort the truth for their own purposes. This is where we need to discern what we have heard, and verify its authenticacy. Our love should be genuine, and let the love of God rule our minds, hearts and actions.