Daily Devotional

1 John 3:16

"We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren."

Do you know love?
Do you know what love is?
Do you know what love looks like or feels like and does?
Love does.
Love does things for us.
Love does things for you.Love has a name.
Do you know His name?
Do you know love?
Love is love.
God is love.
Love’s name is God.
God is love and He loves.
God does.
God does love.
God does things for us.
God does things for you.
God did a THING for you.
What did God do?
God loved you.
God loved you so much that He laid down His life for you.
He made you and loved you and died for you. He also rose from the grave for you and ascended into glory for you and is right now — at this very moment! — interceding on your behalf.
That is love.
That is what God does.
Jesus is God.God is love.
Jesus is love … and He loved you so much that He died for you. That’s what 1 John 3:16 tells us.
It kind of reminds me of another verse John wrote. Also 3:16. John 3:16 to be exact.
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
That’s John 3:16. Kind of sounds like 1 John 3:16.
God loves us so much He died for us.
That is true love!
But one of the main differences between John 3:16 and 1 John 3:16 is what WE are supposed to do.
1 John 3:16 says that our response to God’s great love for us should cause us to respond in like kind.
How should love cause us to respond?
God laid down His life for us and we should do that for the brethren (that is, for other believers).
Wow.
How are you doing with that?Not merely tolerate the brethren.
Not merely associate with the brethren.
Not merely sit in the same sanctuary as the brethren.
But to love the brethren so much that you’d be willing to die for them.
That’s amazing love.
Only God’s great love can make you so grateful that you’d be willing to love other Christians in such a way that you’d be willing to lay down your life for them. Maybe even be crucified for another brother?
All I can say is “Wow!”
I’ve got some work to do on my love.
What about you?
New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation