1 John 5:1 English Standard Version (ESV) Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him.

This is such an easy verse to understand. We have fellowship in the saints and in loving one another we demonstrate that we love God.

Now we must ask ourselves a more difficult question. Whose name is written in the book of life that we should be loving?

Revelation 20:12,15 English Standard Version (ESV) And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

None of the books, the books of deeds nor the book of life were opened until after all stood before the throne of God. No judgment was to be executed until then.

Jesus told us not to judge one another. That is a reminder, a strong reminder, to love everyone as if their names are written in the book of life. He said love your enemies because the love of God is the only thing that ever changed anybody.

It is when we are faced with the challenge to love our enemies that we come to understand that we need to allow Christ in us to love them because we do not. Putting aside personal animosities is one of the most difficult things to do. It goes a step further than forgiveness, it takes a change of heart on our part.

Anyone who tells you that loving God is simple has ignored all that is asked of us when Christ dwells in our hearts. We are His Temple and He rules from the Throne of our hearts.

Isaiah 43:21 English Standard Version (ESV) the people whom I formed for myself that they might declare my praise.

Searching various translations there are two lines of thought to this passage.

The first is that God the Father is to be praise.

The second is that we are to declare that which God has praised.

Both can take a firm stand as to why each translation is correct. The first tends to believe we were chosen of God to praise God. That is a solid argument.

The second is to declare that which God has praised. But what has God praised?

Matthew 3:17 English Standard Version (ESV) and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

God praises His Son Jesus Christ, even before His ministry begins. To declare Christ is to declare our allegiance to Him who has given His life so that we will have life in Him.

In this case it is possible to see both translations to be true and to accept and do both. We can praise God and declare Jesus Christ. Those are not two opposing thoughts.

Either way we see the translation must not lose sight of the fact that God formed us and we belonged to Him, even before we were aware of either translation.

Now comes the more difficult challenge. God formed all mankind and knew them in the womb before they were born. The term “they might” is an inexact phrase that allows for the possibility that some “might not” praise God and declare His Son.

That knowledge weighs heavily on the hearts of every believer in Christ. We want those we care about to declare Christ but wishing does not make it so. The more we love a person the more difficult it is to see them walk away from the love offered to all of us.

My father never saw me come to Christ. Let that sink in for a minute.