Daily Devotional

-April 6, 2021-

Good morning, happy Tuesday,

-Love Demonstrated By Action-

“By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.”

(1 John 3:16-18).

Today’s text is both challenging and encouraging. Love is far more than an emotion, it is an action. Jesus is our example; He demonstrated His love for us by laying down His life for us on the cross. As believers we should demonstrate God’s love in action to others.

In 1 Corinthians 13, the Love Chapter, the Apostle Paul describes this love, which in the Greek is the word agape, which describes God’s love. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a says,”Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.”

Only the Holy Spirit can produce this kind of caring, humble, selfless sacrificing, and patient love to those around us. In Galatians 5:22-23 we find the fruit of the Spirit, and the first one mentioned is love. The fruit of the Spirit represents the character of our Lord Jesus Christ and what He wants to produce in our lives.

Just as Christ loved us and laid down His life for us, we should also lay down our lives for our brothers sisters in Christ. This may be physically, spiritually, emotionally, mentally, financially, materially, or socially, whatever the need may be. Love is costly, compassionate, and caring. It goes the second mile with a smile.

True love goes beyond words. The Apostle John writes, “Let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.” He does not mean we should not say, “I love you,” we should, but we should show love in a practical way lest we be hypocritical. We must walk the talk. May the Lord help us to love one another as He loves us.

Have a blessed day of caring, sharing, and sacrificing for others. Stay safe and healthy.

Dean

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