Subject: love's sacrifice, God's grace to us |
Bible Note: 1 John 3:16-23 "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." This is a hard saying not because we don't understand it, but rather because we understand it all too well. John understands our situation. He goes on to provide for us, knowing that all but a few will fall short of Christ's example and will not become martyrs. We are aware of the persecution of others, yet seldom sacrifice ourselves for their sake. We don't proactively seek/create opportunity to do so, and more usually, we withdraw to avoid those opportunities we could engage. What does John suggest? 1 John 3:17-18 "If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? 18 Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth." From the reference to material possessions and pity on others in need, I infer John calls us to give our material possessions freely to others in need. He continues... 1 John 3:19 "This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence 20 whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything." From this I infer that when we feel we are not loving enough, because we don't willingly die for others, we can be assured that God accepts our sincere charity as righteous, for He knows our limitations and by grace forgives us for falling short. More importantly, this acceptance and forgiveness brings us closer to him, as John explains... 1 John 3:21-23 "Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God 22 and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him. 23 And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us." As we continue to grow in Him, we become more Christ-like and thus better able to obey His command to love others as He loves us. |