1 John 3:16 We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters.
Since God created all humans in his image and God is love – we all have a longing to feel loved. Jesus modeled in human form what perfect love looks like. As you know we have been looking at Spiritual warfare recently and one of the enemies is our own sinful nature that still resides in us. So we have this battle of our redeemed transformed spirit wanting to do Gods will and our sinful nature wanting to do what opposes God.
John, in 1 John is writing against the false teachers who are trying to corrupt the church, preaching that sin doesn’t matter and what we do in the physical world doesn’t matter. One of the dialogs John has right before verse 3:16 is the difference between genuine believers and false believers. True believers are characterized by their love for other believers and false believers are characterized by hating their fellow brother or sister.
Honestly I could extend this to all people, because Jesus said in
Matthew 5:43-48
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor[a] and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
So this characteristic of loving people is a sign of our true faith in Jesus. We not do this perfectly ( that’s why we have repentance , grace and a obligation to express godly sorrow to others {better known as a sincere apology}) but it should mark our lifestyle, which is what identifies us. For instance, I fish occasionally, but that doesn’t really characterize me as a fisherman vs a person who fishes for a living and is out on the water 80 % of his life catching fish- that’s a fisherman. One could characterize his lifestyle as a fisherman. We need to see our lifestyle as one who loves others.
The old saying is there enough evidence to convict me as a follower of Christ- Is my love for others evident enough to convict me as a lover of people.
John continues in the following verses to describe what love looks like. It follows up with actions not just words. He gives the example if we are able to care for a brother or sister in need , we can demonstrate love by caring for them with compassion. The ultimate love is to lay down our lives for them.
Now for all practical purposes this opportunity of giving up our life for another will probably never present itself to me in my lifetime – but it could. But more probable is the daily life of smaller “giving up” for people.
Honestly, I struggle with the day to day of giving my life up. Even as I write this I have a burden on my heart of not being at peace with my daughter -in-law because I said an untimely thing. As James said, “who can tame the tongue it is a wildfire.” Looking back, if I would be silent, I would have been better off. But now I must humble myself, eat crow, and apologize for what I said. What I said might even had been true, but it’s not about right or wrong now – it’s about Romans 12:8
Romans 12:18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
I really don’t like when I react this way, and say untimely things– I wish I were perfect- (really I say that out of pride honestly, so it’s a good thing I’m not perfect, being imperfect could be the only thing keeping me humble), because I don’t like eating crow and humbling myself and apologizing. What’s really aggravating is I can go for a long time, being smart about my tongue, but then WHAM it happens, out of the blue, out of left field, I say something stupid and hurtful. The only solace I have is I can exercise my choice to say I’m sorry and mean it.
If I don’t humble myself and offer a sincere non-defensive apology, I give Satan ground for a foothold in my life.
How do we love brothers and sisters in Christ? If we rarely come across literal giving our lives , what does it look like.
Honestly it starts with our selves. Keeping our hearts abiding in Christ. Taking care of ourselves so we have overflow. Starting out the day with Gods word and communing with God on some prayer. Actually, loving and being good to ourselves physically and spiritually.
Mathew 22
37 Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’[e] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[f] 40 The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”
Notice “Love your neighbor as yourself”
And also in Ephesians 5:28:30
In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies. For a man who loves his wife actually shows love for himself. 29 No one hates his own body but feeds and cares for it, just as Christ cares for the church. 30 And we are members of his body.
If we are taking care of ourselves by
Treating our bodies healthy- getting enough rest , eating balanced meals
Dealing with stress in our life – exercise is a great stress reliever-
Addressing those Elephants in the room – honestly not dealing with life’s daily challenges will become mountains if you don’t get a handle them. Ask God and cry out to him for all those things you feel you have no control over. DON’T be passive – have loving considerate conversations about the elephants. Don’t be untimely, which are not helpful things to say (like I was this morning) and if you are apologize.
Feeding our minds healthy stuff
Proper boundaries around what we expose ourselves to
Reading Gods word asking God to help us live each day in the Spirit
Fellowshipping and being accountable in Upward Men to each other.
I will leave you with this- I’m not sure about others but for me living the Christian life is hard. I love Jesus and I want to be loving all the time – but this sinful nature I share life with causes me difficulty. We have real enemies the fallen word with fallen people, our sinful nature and others sinful nature. And of course, Satan who is invisible and out of sight out of mind often catching us off guard, never relenting.
But our struggle is not in vain if we get back up after each fall. Literally the Christian life for me is falling and then getting back up – over and over again. Not losing hope- keeping my focus on Christ who sustains me and recharging in his Word and being with my brothers who I love dearly.
At the end of the day we serve a victorious savior- who has defeated sin and death and is bigger than our troubles.
Great job connecting the dots on love Mark!