I John 4:21 “And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.”
This “commandment” “from” “God” is to show the “love” that we feel for our Brethren. Those who “love” “God”, inherently feel a tender “love” for the Brethren. Our Lord put it this way, “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.” (John 13:34); that is, put that “love” into action. It is issued as a “commandment” because, while we have the Spirit of God within us, we also still have our carnal nature that often tempts us to behave in a brash and unkind way toward our Brethren. This “commandment” requires us to discipline ourselves so that we are perpetually focused upon our “love” for our Lord and for our Brethren and not allow our carnal nature to override it. In a world that is often cold and hostile, we are blessed with our peaceful refuge among the Brethren that joyfully shows this God-given mutual “love”. In this lovely refuge we experience the majestic glory of our God in our loving fellowship. Our souls hunger to receive this blessed “love” and to openly show it to those that we “love”; for, the presence of this “love” is evidence that our Lord is among us! It is no wonder that David wrote, “I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.” (Psalms 122:1)! So, let us flee “into the house of the LORD” and rejoice in this loving refuge!