This quickly became one of my favorite verses many years ago. It sums up the Christian life so succinctly. We ought to love one another. It is so easy to say the words that we should love one another, and it is easy to love the ones who are good, or nice, to us. It is not so easy to love the people who do things intentionally against us, or people who are different than us.
Reading it in the Living Bible really made it stand out to me where it reads, “Little children, let us stop just saying we love people; let us really love them, and show it by our actions”.
What?!?!?! It is not enough to say that we love someone, but we should actually SHOW IT by our actions? Yes, we must show it. A popular song decades ago was entitled, “They Will Know We Are Christians By Our Love”. The song really dealt with the division among those who profess Christ as Savior as we work together. Sadly many Christians are not able to work side by side and do harm to the Gospel.
The Apostle John spoke frequently about God’s love. What it is and how we should show it. Love is also part of the fruit of the Spirit. If we are truly following God, the people should see the love of God through us.
Discussion Questions
- Are there people that are difficult to love? Yes, if appropriate share about someone you know who was/is difficult for you to show love.
- What are some ways we can show people God’s love? Serving them, shoveling snow, raking leaves, helping them carrying something, etc.
- Why should we love other people? God first loved us and sent His Son Jesus to die on the cross for us.
1 John 4:19-21 (CSB) 19 We love because he first loved us. 20 If anyone says, “I love God,” and yet hates his brother or sister, he is a liar. For the person who does not love his brother or sister whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. 21 And we have this command from him: The one who loves God must also love his brother and sister.
End in prayer thanking God for first showing His love for us. Ask Him to help you find ways that you can show God’s love to other people.
Below is a lyric video if you are interested in the song referenced above…
