1 John 3:14-20

"Let us not love just with words and in speech, but with actions and in truth."

The words of this passage are obvious yet always compelling. It is so easy to speak of love, but all those who have loved know it is difficult to be faithful in love. The author of this letter is writing to a church and encouraging its members to love one another. He is not saying they have to love everyone in the world or even in their neighborhood, but he is arguing that they cannot proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ if they do not exemplify the love of God among themselves in the church.

"By this we know love," the author writes, "that he laid down his life for us." (v. 16) This may mean we will be called to lay down our lives "for the brethren," but it surely means responding to the material needs of others in the church: "If any one has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him?" (v. 17) How indeed! We close our hearts (and our wallets) all the time to those who are in need, even those within the church. How does God's love abide in us?

Grace and peace...Bob