1John 3:16-17(MSG )
“This is how we’ve come to understand and experience love: Christ sacrificed his life for us. This is why we ought to live sacrificially for our fellow believers, and not just be out for ourselves. If you see some brother or sister in need and have the means to do something about it but turn a cold shoulder and do nothing, what happens to God’s love? It disappears. And you made it disappear.”
We are called by God to be imitators of Jesus Christ. Everything that Heavenly Father wanted human beings to be and do is wrapped up within the example of His only begotten Son. Jesus said in John 14:6(NLT), “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” Following the example of Jesus Christ is the way to access all the wonderful blessings that he made available, but sometimes we forget this. From the moment that you and I accept the love of Jesus Christ into our hearts, our new life begins. We no longer have to be confused about how to make the most of our lives. Jesus is the answer! We must always turn our minds and hearts to this truth and never forget it, because when we walk in his love, our lives will begin to beautifully unfold.
In John 15:13(NLT), our Great Redeemer said, “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” He put the love of God on full display. Our Lord and Savior demonstrated for us what it means to love others fully and completely. He didn’t withhold anything but gave us everything we needed to be the children God wanted. We have been called by God to share in this sweet fellowship of love and unity. A half-hearted love will not fulfill the goal God has set for us. We need to be all in, and Heavenly Father has supplied all that we need to get the job done.
Sometimes, we see people with great need, and they are suffering from extreme lack. Sometimes this condition is a result of an addiction. It can also be because of mental or emotional issues, or it could simply be that life disappointed them in ways that they were not able to recover. We see these individuals daily, begging for money. They are standing on street corners just about everywhere we go, so much so, that we have become anesthetized to their pleas. Some of us are even annoyed by them, but as God’s people, we must be so very careful that we do not flip the ‘off’ button in our hearts when it comes to those in need.
It’s true that we must be exceedingly careful given the environment we find ourselves in. The times are dangerous, and we must always be on high alert, but this doesn’t mean that we can shut off the voice of the Holy Spirit. Sometimes, the Spirit will tell us to bless someone that is begging for money, and its so important to be obedient to His voice. It’s happened to me more than once, and I have been obedient in ways that didn’t put me in danger.
Again, the key is to be sure that we have spiritual maturity so that we are able to recognize the Spirit’s impetus and voice. We must listen to his voice and instructions about how we should be a blessing. 1John 3:16 tells us of the Savior’s unconditional love, and we are called by God to extend this same love to others. We do this by having compassion and by also having an unselfish heart. Many people are enduring financial hardship, including many believers, but this isn’t a time to retreat into ourselves and stop caring. As God’s children, we are the lights of the world. These are the times that our kindness and good deeds should shine the brightest.
Discovering God’s love for us will transform us, if we let His love into our hearts. The reality of what He’s given us through the sacrifice of His only begotten Son is a wonderful transformative truth. Jesus has shown us that love is more than words, it’s about what you do. Our loving Lord and Savior paid the ultimate price through his love. It is our privilege to show him in return just how much we love him, and how much we honor his sacrifice. We can do it by choosing to be a blessing through our giving, and by loving others with the same love our Lord and Savior has given to us all.
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.
“The Love of God on Display” written by Kim Times, edited by Reverend Fran Mack for Sundie Morning Sistas ©2020. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord! SMS is dedicated to inspiring and encouraging Christian Women through the Word of God.