Love Proved

View daily reading plan: 1 John 3.13-18

The world was hostile to our beloved Lord and it is no surprise that it treats His people harshly and unkindly (v.13). How important it is then, that there is the warmth of family affection among believers when we meet in assembly. A person who makes no contribution to that has never been saved; they “(abide) in death”. Those who do exhibit that love have the personal assurance that they have been transferred from the sphere of death into life (v.14).

As ever, the Lord Jesus is the supreme example: “he laid down his life for us” (v.16). What He did was voluntary; He laid down His life. It was also vicarious; it was for us. Now we are under obligation to adopt the same attitude: “we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren”. (The word “ought” expresses an obligation or debt; we owe it.)

We lay down our lives for our brethren by living in their interests; it is to take their needs into account and to minister to them; it is to be compassionate rather than selfish. The love of God does not abide in one who sees a brother in need but refuses to share (v.17). John shows that real love is not expressed in empty words. “Let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth” (v.18). There has to be the “deed”; positive action proves the sentiment to be “in truth”.

Thursday, 9 May, 2024