Love in Truth and Actions

Jesus and the Just Reign of God
Live Justly in the Reign of God
Hear and Do the Word

1 John 3:14-20

The Message

^14-15 The way we know we’ve been transferred from death to life is that we love our brothers and sisters. Anyone who doesn’t love is as good as dead. Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know very well that eternal life and murder don’t go together.
^16-17 This is how we’ve come to understand and experience love: Christ sacrificed his life for us. This is why we ought to live sacrificially for our fellow believers, and not just be out for ourselves. If you see some brother or sister in need and have the means to do something about it but turn a cold shoulder and do nothing, what happens to God’s love? It disappears. And you made it disappear.

When We Practice Real Love

^18-20 My dear children, let’s not just talk about love; let’s practice real love. This is the only way we’ll know we’re living truly, living in God’s reality. It’s also the way to shut down debilitating self-criticism, even when there is something to it. For God is greater than our worried hearts and knows more about us than we do ourselves.

For Reflection

The standard for a transformed life in the Way is the expression of love.  No love, not fully Christian.  No compassion, not fully Christian.  No willingness to seek distributive justice, not fully Christian. All Christians from time to time will fall from the way.  It is our human condition.  When we do, however, we should acknowledge our errant ways, confess our shortcomings and learn from them. 

Pray

for a life transformed by ultimate love.  Pray that you will find strength in your failures.   Pray that you will grow into grace.