“For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.” 1 John 3:11 (KJV)
“We should love one another” seems an obvious result of salvation. It is the right Christian behavior and attitude. But we live in real life world, where resentments, anger, grudges, violence, occur regularly.
It seems like our world is overflowing with Cain’s problem. Yet, we might conclude that true Christian love is rare. This becomes a real problem. There are so few models of real Christian love around us.
So we must look at the only example we can depend upon, that’s Jesus. What did He show and teach us about real Christian love?
“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. “
1 John 3:16 (NIV)
Young Johnny was failing math. His parents were frustrated. They hired tutors and everything they could to help Johnny. Finally, they decided to send him to a Catholic school with a stronger structure. From the very first day, Johnny began to make improvements. Each evening, he studied his lessons religiously. When Johnny’s 1st report card came, he had an A for math. His parents were pleasantly surprised. “What made the difference?” they asked. Johnny replied, “Well, I never took math seriously until I walked in to math class that first day, and saw this guy nailed to a plus sign. I knew they meant business.”
That’s the point. Jesus meant business when he showed us what love is. He was nailed to the Cross because He was serious about his mission and his people.
Dear Father, thank you for your love to us. Grant us the spiritual fortitude to love one another. I pray this in the name of Jesus. AMEN
Be encouraged today in your love for others,