“What manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!” 1 John 3:1
Our Lord is so awesome! He loves us so much. So much so that we can pray to be able to “comprehend what is the width and length and depth and height of Christ love,” while all the time knowing that that comprehension it is beyond our grasp. Often, we seek to explain His love by saying that He loves us so much that He died for us. This is statement is completely true, in fact, John expressed this in his gospel when he said, “God so loved the world that He gave His only Son.” Really, the only way to express the depth of God’s love is to say that it is impossible for Him to love us more.
My heart yearns, even hurts to communicate my love for Him in return. It is very easy to say those words, “I Love You,” but the way I must prove my love is in the same manner my Savior proved it, through action. 1 John 3 tells us how to accomplish this action.
1. Practice Righteousness. (Vs. 7) “Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous.“ In other words, do what is just and right.
2. Love One Another. (Vs. 11) “for this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.” May our neighbor know that we love them through how we speak to and treat them.
3. Lay Down Your Life for the Purpose of Christ. (Vs. 16) Do this by meeting the needs of others. This is the action of love!
4. Openly Prove Your Obedience toward Christ (Vs.22) Publicly and unapologetically do what God said in His commands, and obey the conviction of His Holy Spirit. This is pleasing to God to “see.”
May you today, prove your love for Christ by loving others through your work of meeting their need.
Pastor Cary