Reading Plan:
1 John 3
Our Thoughts:
Being a middle schooler is hard. I remember all the challenges that came with being twelve, but being a middle school parent is a different kind of challenging. One day, my daughter came home upset over hurtful words said at school. She could not understand why someone would say something unkind, and it made her start toquestion her worth.
1 John tells us do not to be surprised if the world hates believers, but we are not called to respond like the world. One command surpasses all arguments against love: “Now this is his command: that we believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another as he commanded us,”1 John 3:23. This faith in Jesus moves His followers to love others.
This great love for others is only possible because Jesus laid down His life for us. “This is how we have come to know love: He laid down his life for us. We should also lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters,”1 John 3:16.In His great love for each of us, God made us, redeemed us, and continues to sanctify us and make us more like His Son until Jesus returns—then we will be like Him(vs.2).
In fact, our love for others is a sign that we are His. John 13:34-35 shares some of Jesus’ last moments with his disciples, in which he made a point to tell them, “I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples if you love one another.” We have a Father who loves us enough to send His Son to show us how to live, save us, and grant us the Holy Spirit to guide us until He returns. God sent His Son so that we could love like Jesus loved.
In those moments of pain and hurt we all experience in life, we all need to be reminded who we are in Christ. 1 John 3: 1 says, “See what great love the Father has given us that we should be called God’s children—and we are!” Our Good Father cares for His children. He calls us to love our enemy, neighbor, strangers, brothers, and friends. Everyone. On that day, my child needed to know three things: 1. God loves her more than she could imagine. 2. God loves the person who hurt her too. 3. God wants us to love others just as He loves.
God loved us even when we wanted nothing to do with Him. Because of Jesus, we can love those who hate us. We can be light in the darkness. To do that in our own power would be impossible, but our all-powerful God has given us the gift of the Holy Spirit which gives us the ability to love like Jesus.
More Questions to Ask:
- Has someone ever shown you love when you felt like you did not deserve it?
- Who is God calling you to love like Jesus? Take time to intentionally show love to this person this week.
Prayer:
Lord, you showed your great love to me through your Son, Jesus. I know you planned my salvation and redemption before the world was created. Thank you for loving me when I was unlovable. Help me to love like Jesus and view even my enemy as someone precious in your sight. Amen.
Author: Amy Fontenot