What Is Love?

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Scripture: 1 John 3:16-18 (NIV)

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.

Devotion:

This powerful passage from 1 John gives us a clear and compelling definition of love. It is not merely a feeling or a sentiment, but a profound and transformative act. Jesus Christ set the ultimate example by laying down His life for us. This act of love is the foundation upon which we are called to build our lives and relationships with others, inspiring us with the hope of transformation through sacrificial love.

This text challenges us to reflect on the nature of our love and how we express it, particularly toward those less fortunate within our church community. Verse 17 poses a poignant question: If we have material possessions and see a brother or sister in need but fail to show compassion, can we truly claim that the love of God resides in us? This question forces us to confront our personal responsibility in expressing love and the authenticity of our faith, fostering a sense of accountability and introspection.

True love, as exemplified by Christ, is not limited to words or empty gestures. It demands action and truth. It requires us to step beyond our comfort zones and engage in tangible acts of kindness and generosity. This may mean sacrificing our time, resources, or even our personal desires to meet the needs of others. Through these acts of sacrificial love, we embody the essence of the Gospel and demonstrate the presence of God's love in our lives.

As we meditate on this passage, let us be inspired to live out the love of Christ in practical and meaningful ways. Let us seek out opportunities to support and uplift our brothers and sisters who are in need, remembering that in doing so, we are not only serving them but also honoring Christ's commandment to love one another. This call to action should motivate and commit us to live out sacrificial love.

May our love be evident in our actions and in the sincerity of our hearts, fulfilling the call to lay down our lives for our fellow believers as Jesus laid down His life for us.

Prayer:

            Father God, help us to learn from Jesus’ example how to love genuinely. Help us, Lord, to be willing to lay down everything from material comforts to our very lives for others. May our lives give glory to the name of Jesus. Grant us, Lord, the courage to give all our being to our needy brothers and sisters. This prayer is a plea for the strength and guidance to live out sacrificial love in our daily lives. Now, we pray these things in the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior. Amen.

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