1 John 3:11-18
For this is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous. Do not be surprised, my brothers and sisters, if the world hates you. We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death. Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him.
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. 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? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.
Devotion
I was recently reminded of a song from 1965 entitled, What the World Needs Now is Love by Jackie DeShannon. The chorus goes like this: “What the world needs now is love, sweet love. It’s the only thing that there’s just too little of. What the world needs now is love, sweet love, no not just for some but for everyone.” In this song, the authors are telling the Lord that what the world needs in that moment is love. This is just as true today as in 1965. But I am not certain what kind of love the authors had in mind when they wrote this. The Book of 1 John is sometimes referred to as the love book in the Bible. Love seems to be a major theme in many of John’s writings. He also refers to himself as “the disciple whom Jesus loved.” John had a very intimate relationship with Christ, and it is evident in his writings.
In the above text, John lays out the quality of God’s love for us. Verse 16 reads, “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us.” God loved (valued) us so much that He sacrificed His Son that we might be reconciled to Himself. Jesus said, “Greater love have no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). Of course this was a reference to what Jesus was about to do in offering up His life as a ransom for many. Yet, the quality of love that is seen here is selflessness. When we love (value) others, then we are going to always act in their best interest. We will go as far as to sacrifice ourselves on their behalf. When John writes, “For God so loved (valued) the world, that He gave His One and only Son,” he is declaring our worth or value in God’s eyes.
God loves (values) each of us! Jesus’ sacrifice is the ultimate statement of our value in God’s eyes. Now think about this when you read verse 11, “We should love one another.” What does this look like? Verse 16 answers this question: “We ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.” This is the ultimate demonstration of love. Then John goes on to explain what this looks like practically. We are to share our material possessions with those in need. We are supposed to love others not just in word but with actions and in truth. You see, what the world needs now is love, sweet love. Not empty expressions that ring hollow, but with tangible actions that say, “You are loved (valued) by me and God!”
Questions to Ponder:
Do you put others’ needs before your own? Do you love (value) yourself? Would you willingly give up your life for someone else? Do you share your blessings with those in need? How is your love for God and others making a difference in the world today?
Prayer Points
- Praise God for His Agape (love). Thank Him for loving sacrificially, perfectly, justly, rightly!
- Ask Abba to mark you with His heart of love. Ask Him to make you an agent of love. To love Him with all your heart, mind, soul and strength and to love others as yourselves. To love your neighbor.
- Pray Ephesians 3:14-21 over yourself and our Oak Pointe family. Pray a blessing of protection over Pastor Bob and all speaking pastors who are doing focused sermons on race. Pray protection, God’s word to move in a mighty way in and through them and all of us.
Suggested Prayer
Father, lead me by Your good Spirit into truth. You have chosen me, washed me with Your Word, You have redeemed and forgiven me. I am so loved by You my Father. You have received me, and I’m accepted just as I am. I declare I love to be loved by You because You love perfectly and rightly!
God, I ask that Your love for me would overflow like it did with John who confidently referred to himself as “the disciple whom Jesus loved.” I ask that You make me and Your church at Oak Pointe an “ACTS 29” church, where I share all things with those around me. Let every area of my life be worship to You, reflecting You, speaking Your words of truth and love, demonstrating patience, grace, mercy, forgiveness, understanding, and compassion. Enable me, by the power of Your Spirit, to lay down my life daily and pick up my cross to follow You.
I ask that you start with my thoughts. God, I pray that you move to my heart. Finally, I ask that You transform my hands and feet. My desire is that all of me would be completely surrendered to You so that I might be used by You Help everything I say and do to be for Your glory and to bless others. Be glorified in and through my life. I ask in the wonderful Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.