The Outworking of Love

Now we know that believers ought not treat their brothers and sisters in Christ poorly. We also know that love is imperative to our faith. But what should this love look like? This is where John continues in the 16th verse of chapter 3.

 

What is the best example of love? Where do we find the perfect example of love? John's answer? In Christ - the One who was willing to lay down His life.

 

Jesus said, "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends." This is recorded in John 15:13, and the word undoubtedly still echoed in John's mind.

 

The standard to which believers are called to love their brothers and sisters is a high one. It does not mean that to perfectly love them we must find a way to physically die for them. It means that we must find a way to die to our own selfish desires on their behalf. We must give of our money to the man without food, even though it will mean we cannot go out to eat this month. We must give of our time to the family without a strong roof, even though it will mean we use precious vacation days. We must give of our space to the mother and child without a home, even though it will mean losing the peace and quiet of our home.

 

In John's time, and a thousand times over in our time, this is a different sort of dying - a dying to self.

 

If you have the earthly means to help a brother or sister in need (you do), and you look away - pass the plate - walk on the other side of street, how is there any evidence of the love of God in you? If we claim to be imitators of Christ, yet do not imitate His most epic  action, on what basis can we claim to know Him?

 

If you tell your friends your brother is your identical twin, but when they see him, he stands a foot taller, has freckles, a different shaped nose, a stronger cheek, different colored eyes and different colored hair, are they going to believe you? Even you would have to take a step back and think, "Huh, maybe we aren't identical twins."

 

Most Christians do not have a problem talking about the needs of others. They don't even have a problem praying about them. "Lord, I pray that you would help the Smith family find a place to live. Lord, I pray you would bless the Johnson's with the funds to buy a car to replace the one they totaled. Father, please keep Johnny in the youth group and find him a mentor so he doesn't go back to his old ways."

 

Stop praying. The very fact that you are praying for them at all could quite possibly mean that the Lord has already provided the answer…in you.

 

Why can't the Smith family live with you until they find a place? Don't have room? How about converting that study to a bedroom?

 

Why can't you donate one of your cars to the Johnson family? Sure, it's convenient having two, but is it necessary? If you only have one car, what about a $100 check. No, it's not going to buy a car, but it's better than nothing. A $1,000 check would go even farther, but then again, you'd have to take that out our your emergency fund I suppose.

 

Johnny doesn't need a mentor. He needs you. No, you don't know everything, but you've been in the church for years. You can't explain the book of Revelation, but you can sure show him the law and grace of God, can't you?

 

I don't mean to be overly sarcastic or simplify this kind of love too much. It wouldn't be called laying down a life if it was easy. Letting someone live in your house is a sacrifice, so is giving money and possessions away. It's difficult. But that's the whole point, isn't it? We are imitating the One who did the difficult things. We are loving like only someone with God Himself inside of them could love.

 

This is how the world knows you are who you say you are. This is how you know you are who you say you are.