{"id":24529,"date":"2015-02-20T00:20:23","date_gmt":"2015-02-20T05:20:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/girlfriendscoffeehour.com\/?p=24529"},"modified":"2015-02-19T17:16:40","modified_gmt":"2015-02-19T22:16:40","slug":"week-love-deed-truth-1-john-316-18","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/girlfriendscoffeehour.com\/wordpress\/2015\/02\/20\/week-love-deed-truth-1-john-316-18\/","title":{"rendered":"This Week… Love In Deed and Truth (1 John 3:16-18)"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"SeekingHimLogo\"<\/a><\/p>\n

We know what real love is because Jesus gave up His life for us.
\nSo we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters.
\n<\/span>If someone has enough money to live well
\nand sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion\u2014
\nhow can God\u2019s love be in that person?
\n<\/span>Dear children, let\u2019s not merely say that we love each other; <\/span>
\nlet us show the truth by our actions.<\/span>
\n1 John 3:16-18<\/span><\/p>\n

Last week, here on the Seeking Him devotional blog, we looked at what LOVE is (1 Corinthians 13:4-8). \u00a0This week, our devotional writers have focused their thoughts and words on what Jesus’ love was and is. \u00a0In one simple word: action. \u00a0Our Lord set the high standard and gave us His perfect example in giving His life for us. \u00a0As 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….<\/p>\n

In A Model of Love<\/em>, Laura<\/span><\/strong> shared a personal story about giving selflessly; she also wrote,<\/p>\n

“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\u2019t give them the shirt off your back (not literally) then you try to find some way to help them…<\/p>\n

Jesus gave in the same way, but He took it to a bigger need\u2014the 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.”<\/p>\n

\u2766<\/span><\/h2>\n

In Sincere Love<\/em>, Cynda<\/span><\/strong> reminded us of Jesus’ words:<\/p>\n

I give you a new command: Love one another.
\nJust as I have loved you, you must also love one another.
\nJohn 13:34<\/p>\n

And she shared…”My struggle with selfishness is a daily battle. \u00a0It is so easy<\/em> to profess love. \u00a0But getting my actions to match my words is where the rubber meets the road. \u00a0Romans 12:9a (HCSB) states \u201cLove must be without hypocrisy.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0OUCH! \u00a0Real love is demonstrated by deeds. \u00a0It requires a deliberate choice. \u00a0That choice doesn\u2019t necessarily have to be monetary. \u00a0Encouragement and support cost nothing, except perhaps a little bit of time. \u00a0Sincere expressions of affection and labors of love<\/span><\/em> show God\u2019s love DOES dwell within us.”<\/p>\n

\u2766<\/span><\/h2>\n

\u00a0In Love With Actions<\/em>, Tina<\/span>\u00a0<\/strong>encouraged us to love others who are struggling.<\/p>\n

“When we see a brother or sister in Christ having trouble we should not hesitate to help them. \u00a0God will surely honor us in this act of kindness. \u00a0 We will be changed when we do this. \u00a0We 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\u00a0gone through\u00a0the struggle and hurt they have experienced.<\/p>\n

\u201cA new command I give you: Love one another.
\nAs I have loved you, so you must love one another.
\n<\/span><\/span>By this everyone will know that you are My disciples,
\nif you love one another.\u201d
\nJohn 13:34-35<\/span>\u00a0<\/sup><\/span><\/span>
\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

As Jesus told us, we are to love one another and in doing so we show that we are His.”<\/p>\n

\u2766<\/span><\/h2>\n

In God’s Love IS Possible,<\/em> Ahmee<\/span><\/strong> reminded us of David and his good friend, Jonathan…and the selfless love they shared.<\/p>\n

“Love is more than just a warm feeling. \u00a0Love does. \u00a0Loves does many things! \u00a0As I\u2019ve said before<\/a>, \u201cLove says \u2018yes!\u2019 even when faced with impossibilities.\u201d \u00a0David and Jonathan had a love for each other. Jonathan was David\u2019s friend. \u00a0He 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.<\/p>\n

Everything he had he was willing to give up for his friend. \u00a0Love does that. <\/span><\/em>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. <\/strong><\/em>God\u2019s love is possible<\/strong>!<\/strong><\/em><\/span>”<\/p>\n

\u2766<\/span><\/h2>\n

And in Love Gives<\/em>, Ann\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>encouraged us to give (as God gave Jesus and Jesus gave us the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit gives us gifts) to others.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

“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.<\/p>\n