KNOWING LOVE

1 JOHN 3:16-18

“16 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. 17 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? 18 Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.”

Real love is an action, not a feeling. It produces selfless, sacrificial giving. The greatest act of love is giving oneself for others. How can we “lay down our lives”? By serving others with no thought of receiving anything in return. Sometimes it is easier to say we’ll die for others than to truly live for them—this involves putting others’ desires first. Jesus taught this same principle of love in John 15:13. Verses 17 and 18 of our passage today give an example of how to “lay down our lives” for others—to help those in need. This is strikingly similar to James’s teaching (James 2:14-17). How clearly do your actions say you really love others? Are you as generous as you should be with your money, possessions, and time? Tyndale. Life Application Study Bible NIV.

ON THE WAY HOME WALK WITH JESUS and know that your actions are showing others so that they KNOW your LOVE comes from JESUS CHRIST