Today’s Devotion
Topic: What Love Is
Text: 1 John 3: 16- 18
16 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 and sisters. 17 If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? 18 Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. Amen
Love is one of the most commonly used and abused words of our time. Lately, it is difficult to tell if those who profess love really mean it or use it as a manipulating tool to get what they want.
Thankfully, the Word of God demonstrates to us that love simply means this: that since our Lord Jesus laid down His life for us, we ought to lay down ours for our brothers and sisters.
This is not to suggest that we must literally die for another to prove love (although that is one of the highest demonstration of true love). It is the ability to feel exactly how a person feels during any circumstance, and to offer more than words to make their lives/ burden much lighter in many ways.
To offer more than words is to take action; backing your confessions of love with practical deeds that go a long way to bless the other. These actions however must always be in the TRUTH OF GOD’S WORD; without any selfish motives or hidden agenda.
So the next time you hear “I love you” from a friend or family member, check their actions to see if it demonstrates the love they profess; and whether the action is TRUE and sincere. For “if anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?” ( 1 John 3 : 17).
Begin to pray now. Ask God for a loving and sincere heart that cares about the people around and goes every extent to demonstrate it by actions. These actions must never contradict the Bible. If they do, then it is not selfless love being displayed.
And yes; it is true that self interest often precedes all that man does. However, to those of us in Christ, His love compels us to genuinely love one another without negative ambitions; just as God, so loving the world, took action by giving His only begotten Son.
So by all means love, but with action too, not just words. And make sure your words and actions are offered in the TRUTH OF GOD’S WORD. That way, you have represented Christ in the life of the other. Make this your desire and principle throughout life. It will be your point of blessing forever.
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