OASIS WORD BANK
Opening Passage
Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and truth. 1 John 3:18 (NIV)
Title: Love Beyond Expressions | Part I
Columnist: Rudolf E. Y. Mensah, ©Oasis WordBank
Reference: 00122308
Devotional
This passage is an exhortation to love with actions, not just mere words. This exhortation is based on Paul's previous discussion of the need for believers to love their brother.
The Greek word for love used in this verse by Paul is "agape", meaning, "unconditional, selfless, and sacrificial love".
This is the kind of love that should exist in the heart of anyone who sees himself or herself as a Christian and child of God.
Your love and feelings towards a fellow Christian must be unconditional, selfless, and sacrificial.
Agape love for the brotherly in Christ is the love that exists regardless of changing circumstances.
Love is a verb, it requires an action! Love as a verb is a doing word! It is an action word! Show some love to somebody in this festive season.
Christian love (agape) is not simply a feeling or an emotion but is also an action that one undertakes. It involves actively seeking the well-being of others, sacrificing for them, and choosing to put their needs above one's own.
Can you do this? Can you love this way? Are you loving fellow Christians this way as expected of you by Jesus through Scripture?
Unless you are not truly born again unless you are not truly a Christian. Otherwise, the descriptions of this type of agape love are mandatory! No Child of God is truly a Christian until he or she learns to love and practice the agape way.
No Child of God truly loves God until he loves one another the agape way. No child of God will make heaven without practicing this type of love.
This form of love often requires us to put aside our desires and preferences to serve others, regardless of who they are or how they treat us.
As Christians, we are called to express love for one another through our actions. In John 13:35, Jesus states that others will know that we are His disciples if we love one another. This love is not just something we say or feel, but something we actively demonstrate to each other.
Christians express love for one another in many ways, including:
1. Serving one another: Christians are called to serve one another, meeting each other's needs and loving others as they would like to be loved.
2. Forgiving one another: Christians are called to forgive others, even if they have been wronged, and to offer grace and mercy to those who have hurt us.
3. Praying for one another: Christians are called to pray for one another, lifting the needs and concerns of others to God.
4. Encouraging one another: Christians are called to encourage one another, lifting each other and helping each other to grow in their faith.
In short, Christians are called to love one another as Christ has loved us (John 15:12). This means putting others first, serving them selflessly, and demonstrating love through our actions towards them.
According to John 3:16, the love of God that is to be mimicked and practiced by every Christian is love beyond expressions!
You can give without loving. But you can never love without giving! Christian love is service-oriented! It serves and gives support in any form and by every means possible!
Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to baptize you with this type of agape love for your fellow brother or sister in Christ. Shalom Aleichem!
