John was adamant: to believe in Jesus and know him is to walk as he walked and that means loving as he loved. Love is not an abstraction or an idea but a way of life. The only way we express love for God is by loving our brothers and sisters. If we claim to walk in light and love but fail to love those around us, then we are living a lie. Our daily interactions with others and the attitudes we have towards them are a test and an indicator of the quality and depth of our faith and our love for God.

Love and faith sustained Simeon and led him to encounter the infant Jesus in the temple. He felt that his life was complete - he could now go in peace. God was in control! But there was a warning - Jesus embodied perfect love, but this is threatening for many people, especially those who walk in darkness and selfishness. His presence would stir up a lot of trouble; many would stumble and fall. Love has a way of laying bare what lies within people. In their encounters with Jesus, the true inner nature of many people would be revealed in both a positive and negative sense. How would you react to the presence of Jesus? Would perfect love be threatening to you? How about those around you? How would Christians in general react to Jesus were he to appear in their midst? What would be revealed and laid bare? The answers to those questions lie in beginning this very day to walk the path of love - it is the only path to God's kingdom.