This week we'll be looking at 1 John 3:11-18, and we will be looking at love from a slightly different perspective. In Chapter 2, we saw love as evidence that we are walking in the light. Now we see love as a matter of life and death. Let's look briefly at four "levels" of love discussed in this passage:
- Murder - Okay, I'm good here. I never killed anyone.
- Hate - Come on John, I mean, I don't really hate anyone. What's that? Look at Matthew 5:21-22? Oh.
- Indifference - Uh-oh.
- Christian Love (compassion) - I know this is where I'm supposed to be, and it's where I really want to be, but how do I get there?
Answer: Verse 16 (this week's memory verse) - By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.
So how do we love? Seems pretty clear, but what does it mean to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters? Think about that for a minute and then think on this - How do you love?
In Him,
John
1 comment:
John,
I’ve been thinking about the last part you mentioned in reference to 1 John 3:16: “By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.” How do we lay down our lives? I think about how when I give an offering to a missionary who is out in the wilderness or some strange country witnessing to unbelievers or helping poor believers who are less fortunate than I am. By laying down the money I’ve earned for others I’m saying it’s not ‘all about me”. I also think as a single person that God might possibly want me to remain that way so my life would be better used for others. It’s just a thought. I was bought with a price and I can’t argue with the Master, although I am always free to express my desires to Him. I can also lay down my life by helping others get to where they need to be. I heard a missionary say that if you spend most of your prayer about others, it’s amazing how God will answer your own desires and prayers without even realizing it…
Later,
John
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