In this week's verses we see the ultimate example of God's love and the visible ways that we can love like God does.
"Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us:…"
The love of God is far beyond our comprehension, but we can catch a glimpse of it through Jesus' sacrifice on the cross. It's easy to fall prey to apathy in our Christian walk, but a great way to fight apathy is to slow down and take the time to realize what God has done for us, to meditate on His love for us. We deserve condemnation. We are filthy with sin, yet God loved us so much that he came down to a sin-cursed world to die an excruciating death for a world that rejected Him.
"…and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren…"
As believers, we ought to be willing to follow our Savior's example. Most of us will not have to go as far as literally dying for a fellow-believer. We should be ready, however, to put another's life before our own. That may entail giving of our time, possessions, or attention. Loving as a believer means willingly putting others first.
"…But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?…"
God's love is a love that gives. He is constantly giving to us, and we have the opportunity to be like Him and to even be used of Him by giving to others. You don't have to have much to give. This verse doesn't say "whoso hath an abundance of this world's good," it simply says "whoso hath this world's good." If we have something, we can give something. This reminds me of one of my favorite quotes by Lilias Trotter, "Measure thy life by loss and not by gain,… for love's strength standeth in love's sacrifice, and he who suffers most has most to give."
"…My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth."
So much of the love of this world is superficial. We are the children of God, and our love should be different. Our love as Christians should be a reflection of God's love. God does not just tell us that He loves us, He shows it. It is true, genuine, and it is amazing. Others should be able to look at the way we love and identify us with Jesus.
This week, shine God's love to others in deed and in truth.
God bless.
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