“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. 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? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” ~ 1 John 3:16-18

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“The Objective Reality of Love”
By Jennifer Kane

The laying down of one’s life is not only death, but love—
A love that pours itself out in every breath and deed.
I could lay down my life by spending my time, my money, my strength,
In pursuit of what truly matters:
God and His people.

But too often, I lay my life down for lesser things—
My job, my amusement, my habits,
Small idols that call for my energy and will.
I have surrendered pieces of myself,
to empty pursuits and fleeting comforts.

Yet Christ showed the objective reality of love:
Not only in His death, as atonement for sin,
But in every moment He lived.
A life wholly devoted to God and people,
An offering given daily, willingly, with joy.

With His heart, He loved deeply and completely,
seeking the lost, comforting the weary,
meeting the hungry, thirsty, broken, and unloved.
With His mind, He taught the truth, illuminating the way,
drawing us to a wisdom beyond our understanding.
With His strength, He served, tirelessly and humbly,
washing feet, bearing burdens, healing hurts.

Jesus is the Living Testament of Love,
love in deed and in truth, perfect and pure.
My calling now is to learn from Him,
to follow His steps, to live His way,
the only way to live.

To lay my life down as He did—
not for myself, but for others,
not in mere words, but in truth.
To hold nothing back, to give and not count the cost,
to be, like Him, a living sacrifice,
a humble offering of love.

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In a world filled with competing ideas about love, understanding the nature of true love is essential. The Bible gives us the clearest picture of love through the sacrificial act of Jesus. Love is not just a feeling but a demonstrated reality. Jesus’ love was not “felt” in a passive way; He displayed it by giving His life for us. This is the ultimate example of agape love—the love that gives without expectation, that sacrifices, that sees value in the other person simply because they are beloved by God.

The ancient Greeks used various words to describe love. While eros spoke of desire and attraction, storge referred to family bonds, and philia encompassed deep friendship. But the highest form of love, agape, reflects the love God has for us—selfless, enduring, and giving without seeking a return. This is the love shown on the cross, a love willing to lose so that others may gain.

Just as Jesus laid down His life, we are called to “lay down our lives for the brethren.” This isn’t just about grand, heroic gestures but about the little, everyday sacrifices we make out of love for others. True love may mean “laying aside” our needs, our time, our resources, or even our preferences so that others can experience God’s love through us. It’s easy to think we’d make big sacrifices, but God often calls us to sacrifice in the ordinary moments. As Philippians 2:3-4 says, we are to “look out…for the interests of others.”

These verses elevate love into a higher state by how God wants us to take love a step further: “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?” We are not only called to love in words but also through actions. This means that if we encounter a need and can meet it, we should act. True love moves us from talk to action, from intention to sacrifice, as we mirror God’s love.

But John also reminds us that giving with wisdom is crucial. The love of Christ is not enabling but empowering; it gives what is truly needed rather than just what is asked for.

Today, consider how you can live out God’s love in your relationships. Who in your life needs you to “lay down” something on their behalf? Are there ways you can go beyond words and show genuine love through action? Seek to live out the sacrificial love of Jesus in all you do, loving in both deed and truth. This is the essence of the love that God has called us to—a love that doesn’t only seek to receive but finds joy in giving.

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Heavenly Father,
Thank You for revealing the depth of true love through Your Son, Jesus Christ. I stand in awe of His life, so freely given, not only on the cross but in each step, each word, each act of compassion. Through Him, I see that love is more than a feeling or a word; it is a choice, a sacrifice, a daily laying down of self for others.

Forgive me, Lord, for the times I have laid my life down for the wrong things— My own ambitions, my comforts, my routines. Help me to redirect my heart and my actions toward what truly matters: loving You and loving others with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength.

Teach me to live in Your agape love, to give without expecting, To serve even when it is hard, and to love even when it costs. Let me follow in the steps of Jesus, who loved in deed and in truth, who showed compassion to the broken, wisdom to the seeking, and strength to the weary.

May my life be a humble offering of love, poured out for those You place in my path. Let my words speak Your truth, and my actions reflect Your heart. Help me to lay down my life, not in one grand gesture, but in the small, daily sacrifices
that bring Your love and light into the lives of others.

Father, make my heart more like Christ’s. Teach me to love like He loves, to live as He lived, and to give as He gave. Thank You for the gift of Your Son, the perfect model of love and for the privilege of walking in His footsteps, one day at a time.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

October 29 2024