By This we Know Love Devotional 1 John 3:16-18

Introduction:

“I read a story about a woman who recounted stories of her brother. He was 3 years younger than her and they lived in a poor family. When they were young she stole 50 cents to buy a hanker chef that all the girls had, their father found out and threatened to punish them both if someone didn’t admit to it. He was beaten that night. He left high school so she could go to university. Later on she got married, and her husband became the director of a factory. They offered her younger brother the position of head manager, he rejected and stayed in the village to take care of his parents. That’s a man who loved his sister.

We Know Love by Example: The Gospel: 1 John 3:16

Gospel (Good News)

The Good News is that Christ redeemed us

Our good works are like dirty rags Isaiah 64:6

God says though our sins are like scarlet they will become white like snow Isaiah 1:18

Christ is our example of Love Romans 5:8 “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

We Know we are Loving by our Actions: 1 John 3:16-17

Are we loving the Brothers (In Christ)

Are we sharing the blessings God has given us?

What does that look like as a College Student?

Time - Can you share your time to listen to someone who is struggling, lonely, or (feels off) looks discouraged

Words - Can you share truth with someone to encourage them and spur them to grow

Actions - Can you take initiative and do something little for a brother. Return a book to the library, charge their laptop/phone, give them help with homework, share your room as a place to hangout.

Application: 1 John 3:18 “Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.” We need to love (self sacrifice) for the brothers because Christ loved (self sacrificed) us.

Conclusion: The reality is, if we walk out the door without predetermining to love fellow believers, we listened for nothing. You wasted your time by listening. But if you get up and purpose in your heart that your going to grow your love for fellow believers, than you are actually loving in a Christlike way. Growth is slow, and you make mistakes, but God honors the upright in heart. Let’s not be all talk, we’ve have enough of that in this world. Let’s live like legitimate believers who have a love that enables each other to grow in the Lord.