What is Real Love?
Oh that beautiful word love. Do you ever feel like the world truly understands what real love is? Seems like the world thinks they understand what real love is but in the end chooses to paint a picture that is far from the truth. That is why we get disappointed by our loved ones because we are not experiencing the love we see in movies, sing in songs, read in books. Instead of a perfect fairy tale love we experience love that is broken.
1 John 3: 11-24 gives us some great insights about what true love looks like. In the Bible, John tells us not to be like Cain, who did not show real love to his brother. Unfortunately, Cain murdered his brother Abel because he envied his brother. John says real love is not jealous, bitter, or showing hatred towards someone. What about you? Do you get jealous of how God is blessing someone? Do you have a spirit of bitterness towards someone? Are you angry with someone? God calls us to love not to have a spirit of jealously, bitterness or hatred towards others. Remember keep your focus on God and what he is doing in your life rather than looking at our neighbor.
John also shares in that passage that real loves is visible to others."Do not be surprised, my brothers and sisters,[b] if the world hates you. We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other (1 John 3:13-14). What John is saying here is that when you become a Christian it shows and the world will not be happy when you love because it exposes their sinful behavior. But that is how you know you have crossed from death to life because you love. A true Christian loves, forgives, loves their neighbor, does what is right, brings life, heals.
Just in case you are not sure how to love, John points out to us that Jesus is our model (1 John 3: 16). Just like how Jesus gave up his life for us, so should we give up our lives for others. This means real love is sacrificial. God does not want us to say we "love" people, He wants us to show it by our actions. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth (1 John 3: 17-18).
Do we show that kind of love to the people in our life? Do we give up something of ourselves in order to help someone? How are you investing in others to show them you love? Do you give up your possessions? Do you give up your money? Do you give up your time?
The truth is showing love to others can be simple and easy. Here are some ways you can show love to another person: buy them coffee, send someone a card, write a letter to someone you love, give a financial gift to someone in need, visit someone who is sick, make a meal to someone.
Why not challenge yourself this week and try to show love to someone in a special way? Not only will you feel blessed but you will be a blessing to someone else.
Watch the full sermon on this topic by clicking here
