Proof of Life - The Love Test
John's conversation about life
1 John 5:13 NLT
I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life.
The Love Test
1 John 4:7 NLT
Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God.
God is the example of love
1 John 4:7-12 NLT
Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love. God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us.
God reveals His nature
God did not die for our sins and defeat death in order to prove that He was right. He did it because He loved us. Ernest Hemingway wrote a story with only 6 words… “For sale: Baby shoes. Never worn.” John cuts that in half – “God is love.” This is the filter through which to understand all of scripture. If we miss that point, we’ve missed everything. When we love we reveal God!
The opposite of love is...
1 John 4:16-19 NLT
We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world. Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love. We love each other because he loved us first.
The opposite of love is...
Love's opposite is fear. John calls us to live a life guided by love rather than fear. This is not a recent development. Paul instructed us to love. Jesus commanded us to love. In fact, Jesus said it was the greatest commandment.
The greatest command
Matthew 22:36-40 NLT
“Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?” Jesus replied, “‘You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”
Love is unlimited
Love is an ever expanding commodity. The more we love others, the more we experience love. However, if we choose to love, we will also experience more pain. Choosing love is choosing to serve others rather than protect ourselves from pain. Choose love.
Choose love!
Here is a prayer to help you get started... "Father, thank you for loving me unconditionally. Thank you for showing you love by coming for us and dying for us. I choose to express my gratitude and be truly alive by loving others! I know my choice will expose me to being hurt by others, yet I choose to love. Help me to love more." You can also share your own prayer...
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