As we ponder what God did for the world, by giving His Only Begotten Son, Jesus to pay His life as a ransom for all who believe in Him, there are an infinite number of things that should be on our minds. As we seek to understand just what caliber of love God has freely displayed openly to all people, how should we become being learners from God who have been called not only to represent and testify about what God has freely provided for all people who believe in Jesus, but also how to practice true love of the very same sort toward God and each other as well?
The obvious magnitude of the power of the love of God is most clearly seen through the acts of Jesus, as He single-handedly came into the flesh in order to not only satisfy God His Father on the behalf of all who trust and believe in Him, but also to openly display the greatest type of love there is: “Love That Overpowers Death!”
(John 13:35) By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
Old Testament Scripture Reading: Isaiah 25:8 – 9 (KJV)
Isa 25:8 He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it.
Isa 25:9 And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.
New Testament Scripture Reading: 1John 3:11 – 16 (KJV)
1Jn 3:11 For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.
1Jn 3:12 Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.
1Jn 3:13 Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.
1Jn 3:14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
1Jn 3:15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.
1Jn 3:16 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.
Transforming Power Statements:
1) True “Believers in God” have the most hope in this life because they know that God has made good on His promised victory over our most critical enemy, which is death that He will also help us with all any and all of the smaller issues we have to face in this life, therefore, we are set free to walk in the victory increasing our capacity to love our way through this life.
2) The world is becoming increasingly wicked because of the inevitable decay of true love caused by the fall of Adam, which is causing unbelievers to have a higher disregard for holiness, righteousness and truth just as it was predicted throughout the Old Testament prophets and explained by Jesus to the New Testament writers who were commanded to teach the good news of Jesus’ victory over death.
3) When we consider that Jesus summarized what proper relationship with God and man is; by simplifying the entire book of the Law to two simple commands which are: “Love God above all”, first and foremost, and “love our neighbors as ourselves” it became perfectly clear what the focal point is for all of His Disciples, therefore, let us pray earnestly about how we can improve on these from day to day.
1Jn 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
1Jn 4:17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
1Jn 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
1Jn 4:19 We love him, because he first loved us.