1 John 3:18
Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.
Reflection
In today’s text, John talks above love in practical terms. The word ‘love’ is one of the most abused word in many communities. Even a group of criminals profess to love each other in their evil and criminal activities. Two issues are important in John’s definition of love. First, Love is an action word. It is not an abstract or theoretical concept but is something that is practical. This is what is exactly emphasized in the letter of James 2:15-17; Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. When God loved us he acted by sending his Son into the world to redeem us. Second, love is based on truths. What is truths? This is a difficult question in a world where there a competing claims for truth. Remember Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” God’s word is the absolute truth hence true love is anchored on the word of God. May the almighty God help us to embody his love.
Prayer
O God the King of glory,
you have exalted your only Son Jesus Christ
with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven:
we beseech you, leave us not comfortless,
but send your Holy Spirit to strengthen us
and exalt us to the place where our Saviour Christ is gone before,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen
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