Thursday – Love in Action
Over the last few days we’ve considered some powerful truths about love. On Monday, we were reminded that nothing can separate us from the love of Christ and that through Christ’s love we have victory in the midst of this world’s struggles, troubles and suffering. On Tuesday, we learned that the only way to truly experience love in all its fullness is to experience God Himself. On Wednesday, we answered the question: “How do I know Jesus loves Me?” We know He loves us because He was sent into our world and because Jesus became our sacrifice. His love could not be made more evident than giving His own life for us!
Today, I want to take a moment to examine how these truths should impact our everyday living. It’s time to get practical. Let’s take a look at a few passages from 1 John 4.
1 John 4:7-8
7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
Our love for others is a reflection of our relationship with God. Do you really know God? Or do you just know about Him? As we experience God in a deep and personal way, His love rubs off onto us and we become more like Him. Our love for others directly correlates with our relationship with God. What can you do to enhance your relationship with God? Begin taking steps to grow in your relationship with God. Whether that means carving out more time to read God’s Word or for prayer or perhaps it means fellowshipping more with other believers, look for ways to enhance your relationship with God.
1 John 4:14-16
14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. 16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.
How much do you rely on God’s love? It’s so easy for us to relapse into trying to earn God’s favor or live as if our salvation depends upon our work instead of Jesus’ work. Relying on God’s love is a difficult practice. It’s not so much a visible task we perform as it is a moment by moment act of trust that Jesus has saved us and that He loves us despite our weaknesses and failures. We must trust that He can use sinners like us to show His love to the world.
1 John 4:19-21
19 We love because he first loved us. 20 Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. 21 And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.
God loved us first. He loved us when we were unlovable. He loves us despite our frequent wandering and faithlessness. That is the basis from which God expects us to show love to others. As we are filled with the blessings and goodness of His love, God expects us to “pay it forward” to others. Through imitation of God’s love to us, we love others regardless of whether we deem them worthy to receive love; we love others regardless of how well or how terrible they treat us; we love others regardless of how unlovable and repulsive we find them. Who does God want you to intentionally love this week? Who are the people in your life that you find most difficult to love? What is one simple way to show them love?
Love is a command not an option. Remember, Christ will help you as you seek to love others.
Blessings, Luke Justice