LOVE...For real

Good Morning,

1 John 3:16-20 (NIV)
This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.

These can be both difficult and challenging words that we read today. It is sometimes very, very difficult to part with "material possessions" that we have come to have by the hard work of our labors. It becomes a true challenge in our lives to actually give up something that we've worked so hard for, in order for us to simply give it to someone else who is in need. But, that is certainly what we read today, isn't it?

Much too often we hear words of love being spoken at every turn we make around our church services and in our various meetings with other Christians, but then don't see those words actually being put into real action by those who speak them. We see a person with much, dressed in marvelous clothes, driving a Mercedes or Lexus, who has nothing but wonderful words, flowing with loving thoughts, and that person will walk right by a Christian brother who is known to be having financial difficulties, is dressed in worn out jeans and a T-shirt, having had to beg a ride to church, and not a word is spoken. Never mind a helping hand offered.

Now, you know this happens. It happens on a regular basis and probably in every congregation throughout America and probably the world. Well, probably NOT in those countries where there really is NO wealth at all, but that's a different message, isn't it?

What goes on in your mind when you see something like this? Does something tug at your heart? Do you hear a still, small voice inside speaking to you? Here's the telling question of all if you are someone who has plenty and has been blessed with financial wealth: Do you DO something for the person who has a need?

John is clear about this, don't you think? "Let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth." "If you see some brother or sister in need and have the means to do something about it but turn a cold shoulder and do nothing, what happens to God's love? It disappears. And you made it disappear." (The Message) You see what I mean here? In James we read, "Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, 'Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,' but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?" (James 2:15-16) To see someone who has need and do nothing, as James so eloquently puts it, "What good is it?" Indeed.

Here's our challenge, I think, as Christians who have accepted God's grace and gift of salvation in accepting Jesus Christ as Savior...That would be not to just help when we see an OBVIOUS need (after reading these words of Scripture, I would hope that we are all agreed that's a given!), but to actually SEEK OUT those who have needs and help them in a real way...with the love that we read about in John and to say, "This IS good," so to not hear those words in James echoing in our ears.

Will you? Will I? Will we all?

If we wish to actually show the love of Jesus Christ in our lives then the answer to these questions will be, "Yes. Yes, I will not just help when I see the need, I will seek out those who need help and DO something."

I surely hope and pray we do. You see, if we don't, well...... Think about it.

Love, peace, and blessings,

David