Introduction

Beloved friends, we find ourselves once again gathered in the shared warmth of God's love, a love so profound and encompassing that it defies our human understanding. We are here today, not because we are perfect, but because we are loved. Loved by a God whose love is not passive or distant, but active, tangible, and transformative.

The eminent preacher Charles Spurgeon once said, "You will never glory in God till first of all God has killed your glorying in yourself." This profound statement brings us to the crux of our reflection today, as we turn our hearts and minds to the words of 1 John 3:16-24. This passage, my dear friends, is an invitation to examine the depth of God's love for us and our responsibility to mirror that love to the world around us.

Manifestation of Real Love

Christ’s love was not a fleeting emotion or a mere sentiment. It was a love that was tangible, a love that was sacrificial, a love that was transformative. It was a love that was willing to lay down His life for the sake of others.

This is the love that is at the heart of the Christian faith. It is a love that is not based on our worthiness or our goodness, but on the goodness and grace of God. It is a love that is not earned, but freely given. It is a love that is not conditional, but unconditional.

The love of Jesus Christ is also an active love. It is a love that is demonstrated in deeds, not just in words. It is a love that is willing to get its hands dirty, to step into the messiness of our lives, to meet us where we are and to love us in spite of our flaws and failures.

This love takes initiative, reaches out, and seeks the best for others. It is a love that is willing to go the extra mile, to give without expecting anything in return, to forgive without keeping a record of wrongs.

The love of Jesus Christ is a transformative love. It is a love that changes lives, that heals hearts, that restores relationships, that brings hope to the hopeless, that brings light to the darkness.

In the life of Jesus Christ, we see the manifestation of real love. It is a love that is sacrificial, active, inclusive, and transformative. It is a love that is willing to lay down His life for the sake of others. It is a love that is willing to love not just in words, but in deeds. It is a love that is willing to love all people, regardless of who they are or where they come from.

This is the love that we are called to mirror. This is the love that we are called to embody. This is the love that we are called to demonstrate in our own lives. This is the love that we are called to show to the world. This is the love that we are called to live out in our daily lives.

In the words of the Apostle John, "Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth." This is the manifestation of real love that we are called to live out by showing it to the world. This is the love that we are called to embody in our own lives.

Mandate of Love in Action

As we continue to reflect on the words of 1 John 3:16-24, we are reminded that love, in its truest form, is not merely a feeling or an emotion ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO