WE KNOW LOVE BY THIS
by Erika Browning, Women's Ministries Team
Have you ever noticed that John 3:16 and 1 John 3:16 are profoundly similar?
John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.”
And here is 1 John 3:16, “We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.”
God loved the world so much he gave (the life of) His Son for us.
AND
Out of His love, Jesus gave His life for us. And we ought to do the same.
It's ironic that God sent His Son so we could have eternal life, but we are enjoined to lay down our lives for others? What does that look like? It looks like seeing others through God’s eyes and knowing they are so valuable to Him that I should be willing to lay down my life to save theirs. God has given me eternal life. Abundant, eternal life. He loves me, but He doesn’t love me any more than he loves any other person on earth. Who am I to put my own life’s value above another’s?
This is uncomfortable.
When my husband and I were preparing to move to the Middle East with our two children, I was faced with this head on. As I took my daily walk through our Dallas neighborhood, the morning sun bright in my eyes, I finally admitted to the Lord that I was afraid. I feared for my family’s safety. People in churches where we spoke were incredulous that we would take our children to such a geopolitical hot spot. And despite my best efforts at being brave, I finally had to confess to the God of Heaven’s Armies that I was afraid to die over there.
He was so gentle with me! As I walked along with this confession in my heart, I knew I didn’t have to go. He gently gave me permission to stay. In this particular instance, it wasn’t a question of obedience; it was a question of love and trust. “We know LOVE by this…,” not, “We know OBEDIENCE by this….” And I remembered that God gave His son. Jesus laid down His life. Who was I to do any less? Did I think God loved me more than someone who might take my life?
In all honesty, sometimes I think it was easier to live in the Middle East than it is to see others as more important than myself on a daily basis here in DeSoto, Texas. But that is what we ought to do. Lay down our lives, our self-importance, for others.
by Erika Browning
Have you ever noticed that John 3:16 and 1 John 3:16 are profoundly similar?
John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.”
And here is 1 John 3:16, “We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.”
God loved the world so much he gave (the life of) His Son for us.
AND
Out of His love, Jesus gave His life for us. And we ought to do the same.
It's ironic that God sent His Son so we could have eternal life, but we are enjoined to lay down our lives for others? What does that look like? It looks like seeing others through God’s eyes and knowing they are so valuable to Him that I should be willing to lay down my life to save theirs. God has given me eternal life. Abundant, eternal life. He loves me, but He doesn’t love me any more than he loves any other person on earth. Who am I to put my own life’s value above another’s?
This is uncomfortable.
When my husband and I were preparing to move to the Middle East with our two children, I was faced with this head on. As I took my daily walk through our Dallas neighborhood, the morning sun bright in my eyes, I finally admitted to the Lord that I was afraid. I feared for my family’s safety. People in churches where we spoke were incredulous that we would take our children to such a geopolitical hot spot. And despite my best efforts at being brave, I finally had to confess to the God of Heaven’s Armies that I was afraid to die over there.
He was so gentle with me! As I walked along with this confession in my heart, I knew I didn’t have to go. He gently gave me permission to stay. In this particular instance, it wasn’t a question of obedience; it was a question of love and trust. “We know LOVE by this…,” not, “We know OBEDIENCE by this….” And I remembered that God gave His son. Jesus laid down His life. Who was I to do any less? Did I think God loved me more than someone who might take my life?
In all honesty, sometimes I think it was easier to live in the Middle East than it is to see others as more important than myself on a daily basis here in DeSoto, Texas. But that is what we ought to do. Lay down our lives, our self-importance, for others.
by Erika Browning
Posted in Faith Blogs
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