Love Is A Verb
December 8, 2021·Lindsey Fehlen
1 John 3:16-18
Do you know what true love is?!
Have you found it? Are you living it out?
Part of our reading this week was 1 John 3-5.
When John wrote this letter, the Christian faith was about 50-60 years old. One commentator says, “A generation had grown up in Christian homes, but were beginning to forget the true meaning of the words… John chooses key words (light, sin, Christ, love, faith), “disinfects” them, and restores their original meanings.”
Let’s look at one place where John does this —
1 John 3, verses 16-18 say…
16 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 and sisters. 17 If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? 18 Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.
There are a few things happening in this passage —
First, we see that we know what love is because of what?!
Or I guess, more like, “because of WHO?!”
JESUS. He’s the ultimate example of true love. He literally laid His life down for us, by dying on the Cross. But before He did that, He was laying His life down in practical ways… healing people, feeding them, welcoming them in.
Love here is not primarily a feeling, but a VERB.
After John tells us what love is, we’re given an instruction… “lay down your life for your brother and sister.” Simply put, “Do you see what Jesus did? Yeah… do that too.”
Because John knows that we need it, he goes further to tell us how!
17 If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?
One translation says, “Use what you have to help others.”
I laugh a little because John clarifies even further! He tells us what NOT to do…
18 Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.
I have three kids — Emmy is 6, David is 4, and Lydia is 2. I could tell them until I’m blue in the face that I love them, but if I don’t feed them or spend any time with them, how would they really know?!
My friend Debora is the best at this. When I miscarried, she not only dropped off food and gifts, but coordinated other people to bring them as well! When we moved, she was the person scrubbing the baseboards and loading the truck. She will text me to know how I’m really doing.
How do I know she loves me? Because she’s shown up for me in a million little and big ways.
Sometimes I wonder if we, as believers, have become lazy, busy, stingy, and distracted. Instead of actually loving like Christ, we just say, “Oh, I’ll be praying for you” and move on. Ouch.
What if the Lord wants to use us to be the answer to someone’s prayer? What if they need food and we have some? What if they need comfort and we have time to give?
In this season, let’s commit to two things…
- Let’s stay close to Jesus, the ultimate example and source of love.
- Let’s be people that others know “God is in them” because of our actions. Let’s go out of our way to love like Jesus.
I hope you have a great week and are surprised by the love the Lord has for you and the ways He asks you to share it!
Pastor Lindsey Fehlen
