I once heard an illustration of a young lady who desired for her Dad to know The Lord as she did. Week after week at church services, she would ask members to pray for her dad to form a relationship with The Lord.
Finally, the young lady asked members of her church to attend a Bible study in her home. During the evening, the girl excused herself. Soon afterwards, her fellow church members heard her yelling - disrespectfully - at her father.
As they listened to this young girl yelling at her father, it occurred to them that the father's lack of interest in God and church probably had nothing to do with unanswered prayers but instead with this young lady's actions. They realized that until her actions lined up with her words, the father would most likely remain uninterested.
Today's verse declares that if an individual does not show love, they don't know God. This girl's inability to show respect and love to her own father presents a deeper question...does she REALLY know God?
God IS love. He is alive and at work today, but often the way that He shows love is through His children. Sadly, many "believers" demonstrate an extremely distorted representation of God's love.
God's love is completely unselfish. He sent His Son...His ONLY Son...His Beloved...to die for our sins. At any point, Jesus could have asked God to spare Him...yet He didn't. He took the pain, the suffering, the humiliation for you and for me.
John 15:13 says, "There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends."
You will probably never be asked to physically lay down your life for someone, but we can lay down our personal desires to extend the love of Christ to someone. By sacrificing your personal wants, people will see your sincerity...will see the love of God inside of you.
Whether it be biting your tongue and holding back your anger in the heat of a moment...or giving of your precious time to help someone...or giving up something valuable to someone in need...or just displaying friendliness, I challenge you today to take the time to show God's love.
We have said it before and will probably say it again but people don't care what you know until they know you care. SHOW His love. SHARE His love. BE His love. You'll be amazed by the influence you will have in His Kingdom.
Dear Lord, Forgive me for times I misrepresented Your love. Help me to live in such a way that people feel Your love through my life.
I thank You, my Jesus, for dying for me. I believe that you are Lord and God raised You from the grave so that I can have eternal life. In the Name of Jesus I pray, Amen.
