1 JOHN 3:14–18 – We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. 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.
THEME OF THE DAY: THE LIFE OF LOVE. The theme of today’s nugget is the definition of the Christian life. We are born again out of love, and we walk the born again life by that love. The Apostle Paul proclaimed what was the controlling factor in his life, and it wasn’t his knowledge – For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised (2 Corinthians 5:14-15). The Lord Jesus, Himself, the God who is love, told us the “identification card” His people carry with them through life is love – A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another (John 13:34-35). Now both the words of Paul and Jesus are beautiful words to memorize and certainly give us the compasses by way of directing our lives. But the life of love goes beyond words and that takes us to the scripture of the day.
The Apostle John writes his first epistle to build assurance among the recipients. The word “know” is repeatedly used throughout. In fact, we will find him using the word of certainty over thirty times. He wants these believers to be assured of their salvation and standing with the Lord. And he would do so by directing them to various “practices” in the Christian life to validate or give assurance to their profession of being Christians. One chief practice is sacrificial love for other believers.
This sacrificial life of love for other believers takes on different shapes. One clearly identified is the meeting of tangible needs of those believers struggling to make ends meet – 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. In the world we live, the needs of other Christians are growing. The price of fuel, food, utilities, and other things are pinching many believers. These times might appear to be obstacles to overcome, but we should see them as opportunities to seize and that in serving one another in meeting basic needs in life. We find this beautiful life on life practice in the early church – And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need (Acts 2:44-45).
The life of love. It defines the Christian life and that means serving one another in both the spiritual and physical realms; praying with and for one another while meeting real physical needs that may arise with one another. That is what love does!
PRAYER: “Father, let my life of love match my profession of love; of You and people, especially Yours.”
QUOTE: “When we profess a love for God and people, let’s make sure our life reflects that profession.”
Because of Him,
Pastor Jim