1 John 3:16-18
New Living Translation (NLT)
16 We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. 17 If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister[a] in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person?
18 Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.
-Pastor Greg Delaney shared from this portion of scripture as we shared in communion on Sunday, this morning I was led to this portion of scripture as I prayed over my family, and as soon as I turn to Bible Gateway I see that the verse of the day is none other than 1 John 3:16. I don't know about you, but when I see and hear from the same portion of scripture several times in a two day period I am certain that God is trying to tell me something.
"We know what real love is." Millions of people are searching for the very elusive, "True Love," and as followers of Christ we have everything they are so desperate to find. John tells us that since we understand real love that we should also give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. Whether it be through generosity or compassion the church should be living the way Christ taught us, and that is to see others as more important than ourselves.
This is not an easy spiritual concept. I dare say that all of us struggle to consider someone else and their needs to be more important than our own. This is why we need to hit our knees and ask with humility and desperation that God would give us a heart transplant; that he would deposit his heart in to the church.
Later on in that portion of scripture John speaks a very powerful six words. He states that "God is greater than our feelings." We are self-centered and egotistical, but God is greater than our feelings. We are lazy and unmotivated, but God is greater than our feelings. We are proud and closed-minded but God is greater than our feelings. He is bigger than our faults and inabilities, and he wants to use us to bring his love to the masses. The only way we can accomplish great things for Christ is if we understand that he is greater.
Love with his love, share the way he shared, let our actions show that we belong to the truth; and let the truth change the world around us.
18 Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.
-Pastor Greg Delaney shared from this portion of scripture as we shared in communion on Sunday, this morning I was led to this portion of scripture as I prayed over my family, and as soon as I turn to Bible Gateway I see that the verse of the day is none other than 1 John 3:16. I don't know about you, but when I see and hear from the same portion of scripture several times in a two day period I am certain that God is trying to tell me something.
"We know what real love is." Millions of people are searching for the very elusive, "True Love," and as followers of Christ we have everything they are so desperate to find. John tells us that since we understand real love that we should also give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. Whether it be through generosity or compassion the church should be living the way Christ taught us, and that is to see others as more important than ourselves.
This is not an easy spiritual concept. I dare say that all of us struggle to consider someone else and their needs to be more important than our own. This is why we need to hit our knees and ask with humility and desperation that God would give us a heart transplant; that he would deposit his heart in to the church.
Later on in that portion of scripture John speaks a very powerful six words. He states that "God is greater than our feelings." We are self-centered and egotistical, but God is greater than our feelings. We are lazy and unmotivated, but God is greater than our feelings. We are proud and closed-minded but God is greater than our feelings. He is bigger than our faults and inabilities, and he wants to use us to bring his love to the masses. The only way we can accomplish great things for Christ is if we understand that he is greater.
Love with his love, share the way he shared, let our actions show that we belong to the truth; and let the truth change the world around us.
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