Wednesday Reading: 1 John 3:16-18
Key Verse: 1 John 3:18
18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
Devotion:
Saying that we love someone is not enough – showing someone that we love them is what counts. How many times have you heard that said, or something like it? And how many times have you fallen short of the mark? If we are honest with ourselves then we will all admit to falling short of the mark both with God and with others. It is hard to actually carry out what we say we will do sometimes because of that fear that builds up inside of us. It is hard to just go ahead and do things without questioning every action and fearing any reaction.
Christ showed us true love by laying down His own life on the cross for us. We should be willing to go as far as it is required in order to demonstrate our love as well. That does not mean that we have to step out in front of a truck to show someone we love them! That is not what Christ did! He first displayed His love by teaching, healing and doing miracles for everyone, both followers and sinners alike. He openly displayed that love so that we could see it and feel it. He then told us why He would have to do what He did, because we had no hope unless He did that. He did not just go ahead and get killed but rather took upon His own shoulders the sin of the whole world; then He took away that curse of death for anyone who is willing to believe that that is exactly what He has done for us!
Demonstrating love is not just a case of getting on your knees and telling someone you love them, nor is it a case of sending messages in letters or on huge bulletin boards… Demonstrating love is showing someone that you are willing to go that extra mile to cater for their needs just because you can. Love is not demonstrated by giving when we have excess but rather by giving because we have the ability at that moment in time. Giving because you don’t need things is not love but simple charity that anyone can show.
When God showed us His love it was complete and absolutely true (I qualify that because we seem to have various levels of “truth” in society nowadays). Jesus only had one human life, He did not have an excess of lives like a cat is said to have. He did not give His life because He had many; instead He gave that single life because He had it at that time. He showed true love.
Points to Ponder:
How do you show love?
Do you realise how full God’s love is?
Wednesday 17 Oct 2012
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