God’s Abiding Love is to be Revealed in Us

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Women in leadership in West Africa, living sacrificial lives of holy love that is transforming their part of the world. 



Scripture:

1John 3:11   For this is the message you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 12 We must not be like Cain who was from the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother’s righteous. 13 Do not be astonished, brothers and sisters, that the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed from death to life because we love one another. Whoever does not love abides in death. 15 All who hate a brother or sister are murderers, and you know that murderers do not have eternal life abiding in them. 16 We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us—and we ought to lay down our lives for one another. 17 How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help?

Observation:

God’s holy love is to permeate the lives of those who follow Jesus Christ, for this is the message of God from the very beginning of time. Cane stands as an example of one we are not to emulate. In his own heart of evils he could not tolerate his own brother. Out of jealousy he killed the one who was good and righteous.

If Christ-followers live in the way of love, the world will despise them. All the while, the love of Christ should be poured out to those who do not love us in return. Love should always be the response, not hate. Words of hate are just as powerful as murder. 

Jesus gave his life for everyone of us and we are to emulate that sacrificial love. If we live with our abundance and do not help others, then God’s abiding love is not revealed in us. 

Application:

We need to embrace this passage of scripture and allow it to shape and form the ways in which we engage in this world. Followers of Jesus Christ are to live transformed lives, by and through the presence of the Holy Spirit. That presence is revealed by the way in which we love others: loving those who are close to us, and even those whom we would call our enemies. The words in this passage are quite powerful and condemning for those who would hate, for hate is ranked right up there with murder. 

Our attitude toward our “things” has a great deal to do with the ability of God’s love to abide within us. Where do our “things” come from? Who is it that has had to work hard to bring us the “things” that we enjoy? Who has sacrificed and spent a day working in horrible conditions just so that we can have lots of “stuff” at a really cheap price? The words in today’s passage speak to us from across the centuries, “How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help?” 

According to the world’s standards, I know that I have much. Today, the Spirit is nudging me onward, to consider the ways in which I can be helpful and generous to those who have so little, and to do it all in a spirit of God’s abiding love. Participation in Christ means pouring out life-giving words to those who feel shunned and unloved, and this must include everyone who may be seen or perceived as my enemy. 

The overflowing love of God is poured out into each and every one of us, so that the overflow can mend the brokenness of our world. 

Prayer:

Lord, may all God’s children will embrace the opportunity to be wholehearted reflections of Christ in this world today. Amen

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