“For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother’s righteous. Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you. We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the bothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.
By this we know love, that He laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.”
~ 1 John 3:11-18
(emphasis added)
The love of God: agape, is not of this world, but even the world recognizes it and desires it for itself; although the world denies this love is from God. In the world, it is known as “true love” – the love that considers not, nor acts not in order to benefit self, but considers and acts only on the basis of the good that may be bestowed upon the object of its love; sacrificial love.“Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of Him.
This is He who came by water and blood – Jesus Christ; not by the water only but by the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. For there are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree. If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater, for this is the testimony of God that He has borne concerning His Son. Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. Whoever does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has borne concerning His Son. And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life."
~ 1 John 5:1-12
The love of God, perfectly demonstrated in Christ Jesus is beyond our complete comprehension. We neither make God greater, nor do we benefit Heaven in any way. But simply because it pleases God (because God is love [1 John 4:8]) He provided a way for us to have peace with Him through the suffering, death and resurrection of His Son. Through this great Gift, God gave us the freedom to love, to offer “true love” to Him, to other Christians, and to the lost world – and in that order.
Will you choose to exercise your freedom to love from this day forward? Will you choose to love God, to love other Christians and those who are lost, not because they can do anything for you, make you feel good, or for any self-gain or benefit? But love God, other Christians and those who are lost, simply because you seek to bring the greatest benefit to those you love? Even if it will cause you to personally suffer a loss, will you do it? Will you do it with joy, while still feeling the pain?
Will you choose this day, to begin practicing your freedom to love, because Jesus the Christ, willingly bore your shame, your guilt, your nakedness, your condemnation, and your position of enmity with God the Father so that you would have this freedom made available to you?
What will you choose to continue in today? The world’s love that even it rejects: love that always considers itself first before acting, or God’s love?
God has given you the freedom to choose. So choose wisely and consider this: The true character of a person is revealed by how he/she treats someone who is utterly of no use to them.
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