In I John 3:14-19, it says this:
14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death. 15 Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. 16 By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17 But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? 18 My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. 19 And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him.
These verses talk so specifically about how we are to love our brothers and sisters, both natural and spiritual. Laying down our life for them might seem extreme, but that is what love does. Love gives. God is the greatest example of this. God loved, and because of love, He gave. And He keeps on giving. We are the recipients of His gracious love, every day. Because we are receivers, we are required to be givers. You might not like that word require, but we really are. If we see someone with a need, what does a lover do? They give! So to boil it down into simple terms, it means to put our money where our mouth is. If we say we love, there should be some evidence. Is there enough evidence in your life to prove that you are a child of God, who has been filled up with love from on high? Is there evidence in your home? Is there evidence in your speech? Is there evidence behind the steering wheel. That’s hitting below the belt now isn’t it!!! Let’s be the one who loves in deed and in truth.
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