Calendar

THE LOVE OF GOD
MONDAY, OCTOBER 28
1 John 3:16-17
Philippians 3:7-14
 
“But what things were gain to me,
those I counted loss for Christ.”
 
THE LOVE OF GOD
 
The love of God is well expressed in John 3:16. We are saved from sin because God loved us. The Apostle stressed this point in his writings because that expression is central to the gospel. Here he said, “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” (1 John 3:16). The offer of Jesus on the Cross was a demonstration of God’s love. Jesus laid down His life for sinners. John added that Christians must lay down their lives for their brethren. This will not accomplish what the death of Christ did but it will lead many to benefit from the gift of Christ. John was the last of the Apostles to live and he must have witnessed the martyrdom of many of his brethren. He knew that it was worth giving one’s own life for the sake of Christ.
 
The centuries of church history also show that the truth of the gospel of Christ has been preserved because there were those who were willing to lay down their lives for it. The Apostle John in his last days, as he testified in the book of Revelation, was exiled to the island of Patmos. He said he was there for the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.
 
God’s love is also shown in providing for the needy. John said that anyone who has the goods of this world and shuts his bowels of compassion on him who is needy, cannot have the love of God abiding in him. Jesus said that love for one another will show others that the believers are truly His disciples. The whole aim of good works is to show the love of God to others. Out of that testimony, others may believe in Christ and be saved.
 
THOUGHT: The love of God radiates through faithful disciples.
PRAYER: Lord, give me opportunities to show Thy love to others.

Search