Tag: 1st John 3:16-18
Loving in deed and truth
Scripture reading for October 2nd: 1st John 3, Psalm 46, Proverbs 10
1st John 3: 16-18 “By this we know love, that He laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.”
Jesus revealed to us God’s amazing love in His total obedience to His Father in laying down His life for us, even when we were yet sinners like Jacob of old. John encouraged Christ’s followers to not just say that they love the brethren, but to show that love in practical means. If your brother or sister is hungry and you have food, share with them. True love is demonstrated by loving acts of service, not by judging and closing of the heart towards the needy, regardless of their spiritual state. God is now living in us by the Holy Spirit and will lead us to deeds of love done in truth. God is working now to make wars and strife between brothers and sisters to cease. If we heed His instruction, we are truly on the path of life.
Psalm 46:7-9 “The Lord of Hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Come, behold the works of the Lord, how He has brought desolations on the earth. He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; He burns the chariots with fire.”
Prayer: Father God, thank You for showing us what love looks like in the sacrifice of Your Son on our behalf. Help me to apply this love I have received through the Holy Spirit living in me. Direct me in acts of love towards the hurting, poor, orphans, and widows. Soften my heart as I open it to You to make me more like Your Son in laying down my life for others.
Proverbs 10:17-18 “Whoever heeds instruction is on the path to life, but he who rejects reproof leads others astray. The one who conceals hatred has lying lips, and whoever utters slander is a fool.”
Thankful for love in action!
Scripture reading for December 22nd: 1st John 2-5, 2nd John
Key Scriptures: 1st John 3:16-18 “This is how we know what love is; Jesus Christ laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and set our hearts at rest in His presence, . . “
John, the Apostle whom Jesus loved, taught the church what love looked like in daily application. He used his background in the Old Testament to define love towards others as Jesus taught and demonstrated in His life and teachings, and ultimately His substitutionary death. If we have means and see a brother in need, love will motivate us to help them! Love is an action verb!
Love in action in Deuteronomy: “If there is a poor man among your brothers in any of the towns of the land that the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother. Rather be openhanded and freely lend him whatever he needs.” (Deuteronomy 15:7-8)