We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us.
So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters.
1 John 3:16
Jesus, I know You are with me right now.
Help me quiet my thoughts and become aware of Your loving presence.
Read today’s passage again a few times to yourself, paying super-close attention to every word in the passage, especially both times the phrase “gave up” appears.
If you look up the word “love” in a dictionary, you’ll find a lot of different definitions, and a lot of examples that illustrate the differences in the definitions. For example: I love my mom. I love pizza. I love the mountains. I love my BFF. I love sleeping in. I love playing soccer. All of those words mean “love,” but the “real love” we read about in today’s passage is something different.
Real love means giving and sacrifice. Real love means wishing the best for someone and doing whatever you can to help them experience it. Real love means celebrating with someone when things are great and grieving with them when things are bad.
Real love means sticking around when someone makes a mistake and forgiving them when they hurt you.
Real love is amazing, and Jesus showed us exactly how to do it. The way that Jesus showed love to people is what He wants us to do. If we abide in Him, we can actually do it.
REFLECT:
What are some ways you’ve experienced real love from Jesus? From others? How can real love change things in our society? Who can you show real love to this week?
RESPOND:
Thank God for loving us the way He does. Ask God to help you receive His love fully and share it withothers freely. in Jesus.