By Lisa Wilmore
Scripture: Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit… And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also (1 John 4: 11-13; 21).
How well do you demonstrate your love in the actions you take and the choices you make? When God presents situations before us that require us to love, we should seize the opportunity to show His love toward one another, which reveal love, perfected in us. We are able to love as God loves because the Holy Spirit gives us the power to do so, unconditionally and forever. So, as He resides in our hearts, we become more and more like Him.
“The real test of our love for God is how we treat the person standing in front of us, family members, friends, and Christian believers. We cannot truly love God while neglecting those who are created in His image. Real love is an action, not a feeling. It produces selfless sacrificial giving. The greatest act of love anyone can do is give himself or herself for others” (Life Application). John, the apostle, noted “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren” (I John 3:16). Are you willing to lay down your life for others? Do your actions show that you have the love of God? John also recorded “God is love; and he that dwell in love dwell in God, and God in him” (I John 4:16b).
Jesus sacrificed His life in order to give us eternal life. His sacrificial love and sufferings are beyond what you and I are able to do. However, there are several ways we can practice sacrificial love that does not require us to physically die for someone. Such as: provide a listening ear, give of our time and resources when others are in need, and encourage someone when life’s struggles are prevalent. Is there someone you know who could use this kind of love today? If so, make a sacrifice and give all the love you can and then try to give a little more. This love is evidence that God dwells in us and we dwell in Him.
Remember, “Real love is an action not a feeling.”
