This Week… Love In Deed and Truth (1 John 3:16-18)

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.
If someone has enough money to live well
and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—
how can God’s love be in that person?
Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other;
let us show the truth by our actions.
1 John 3:16-18

Last week, here on the Seeking Him devotional blog, we looked at what LOVE is (1 Corinthians 13:4-8).  This week, our devotional writers have focused their thoughts and words on what Jesus’ love was and is.  In one simple word: action.  Our Lord set the high standard and gave us His perfect example in giving His life for us.  As our focus Scripture states, “And so we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters.” Please listen to some of the highlights of what Tina, Laura, Cynda, Ann, and Ahmee about giving and loving….

In A Model of Love, Laura shared a personal story about giving selflessly; she also wrote,

“My father has taught me many valuable lessons over the years, like this one. There are always going to be people in need. If you can’t give them the shirt off your back (not literally) then you try to find some way to help them…

Jesus gave in the same way, but He took it to a bigger need—the biggest need we would ever have. We needed someone to save us from our sin and to bring us back to God. Jesus knew our need before He came here. He saw it while He was walking here on Earth. He set the perfect example of love by sacrificing Himself on the Cross so that we could go to Heaven. Yes, Jesus preached love, but He also showed it through His actions here on Earth and on the Cross.”

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In Sincere Love, Cynda reminded us of Jesus’ words:

I give you a new command: Love one another.
Just as I have loved you, you must also love one another.
John 13:34

And she shared…”My struggle with selfishness is a daily battle.  It is so easy to profess love.  But getting my actions to match my words is where the rubber meets the road.  Romans 12:9a (HCSB) states “Love must be without hypocrisy.”  OUCH!  Real love is demonstrated by deeds.  It requires a deliberate choice.  That choice doesn’t necessarily have to be monetary.  Encouragement and support cost nothing, except perhaps a little bit of time.  Sincere expressions of affection and labors of love show God’s love DOES dwell within us.”

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 In Love With Actions, Tina encouraged us to love others who are struggling.

“When we see a brother or sister in Christ having trouble we should not hesitate to help them.  God will surely honor us in this act of kindness.   We will be changed when we do this.  We will understand the struggle of our fellow Christian as they share the struggle they have been through and we can usually offer sound advice. But we will be surprised at being blessed by the other person who shows how their faith has grown as they have gone through the struggle and hurt they have experienced.

“A new command I give you: Love one another.
As I have loved you, so you must love one another.
By this everyone will know that you are My disciples,
if you love one another.”
John 13:34-35 

As Jesus told us, we are to love one another and in doing so we show that we are His.”

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In God’s Love IS Possible, Ahmee reminded us of David and his good friend, Jonathan…and the selfless love they shared.

“Love is more than just a warm feeling.  Love does.  Loves does many things!  As I’ve said before, “Love says ‘yes!’ even when faced with impossibilities.”  David and Jonathan had a love for each other. Jonathan was David’s friend.  He had sworn his allegiance to David and loyally honored it, because love is faithful…But his love reflected in his actions and, thus, Jonathan helped David on many occasions.

Everything he had he was willing to give up for his friend.  Love does that. Jonathan sided with what was right, because love can conquer all evil. This one human relationship shows that not only Jesus can love in the same way that God loves. We can. God’s love is possible!”

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And in Love Gives, Ann encouraged us to give (as God gave Jesus and Jesus gave us the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit gives us gifts) to others.

“So in our focus Scripture this week, we are commanded to act in love the same way we were loved and given the free gift of Christ as well as gifts of the spirit. Brethren, we are in this physical world and so our love can also be expressed by sincerely helping persons in need.

• We can do this by sharing our earthly possessions with them (James 2:14-17)
• If we refuse to give of our food, clothing, or money to help others in real need it is to close our hearts to them (Deuteronomy 15:7-11)
• This also includes giving our money to help bring the gospel to those who have not heard (through evangelism) (James 4:9-10)

May the good Lord help us as we decide to express love
by giving with all our hearts without murmuring.”

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