16 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.
17 But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
-First John 3:16-18 (KJV)
The word "love" has many definitions and many meanings in our world today. Looking at online dictionaries, many of them define love with phrases like "deep" and "intense" and "tender" affections and feelings. In today's Bible reading, we see John giving us advice on love, and how to love properly. To fully understand what he is teaching us, I think we need to start in verse 18.
"My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth." What John is teaching us is that we must not have deep and intense feelings in words only. We must prove that love by our deeds. Then, in verse 16, he gives us the ultimate example of this principle. "Hereby we 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." He we see the greatest example of love that was ever given. Jesus gave His life for us. He laid down His life for you and me, so that we have eternal life. Jesus talked about His mission, about His work, about laying down His life. But if He really didn't go all the way to the cross, then His words would have been useless. He proved His love for us by going all the way to the cross. John teaches us that we must do the same thing. Now, he wasn't meaning we must die, as Jesus did on the cross. Instead, he was meaning that we must put another's needs ahead of our own. The rest of verse 16 says, "and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren." Since Jesus showed us the greatest example of proven love, we must demonstrate that example to those around us.
John then goes on to give a practical example in verse 17, "But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?" John is teaching us, in a practical example, of how the love of God dwells in us. If we see someone in need, and we have the means to meet that need, then fail to do it, how can the love of God be in us? If we can meet the needs of others, and fail to do that, then we are not "laying down our lives for the brethren." When was the last time you loved someone so much that you laid down your life for them? Jesus willingly laid down His life for you, are you ready to lay down your life for someone else? As you go through this day, look for a need in someone's life that you can meet. Think About It.
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