1 John 3: Do You Have Compassion?
Verse of the Day: (V17) “But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
1. Compassion (V1-18)
V16 “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.”
Jesus, the Son of God, demonstrated to us that real love demands real action as He loved the world so much that He laid down His life on the cross for the sins of the whole world - for yours and mine. Indeed, we know we are God’s children by our love for others. Just like an apple tree produces apples, and so the God of love produces His children of love!
V18 “My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.”
2. Confidence (V19-22)
V21 “Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.”
We shall have confidence in God and know that He answers our prayers when we truly love others and do what is right before Him. This is why many times we lack confidence in God and our prayers are not answered because we fail to demonstrate our compassion and love for others. When people offend and hurt us, we get angry and bitter, and fail to forgive and love them as Jesus would have done. Indeed, how can we say we are the children of the God of love when we cannot even love all including our enemies? Before Jesus died, He demonstrated His love for His enemies when He prayed to God, His Father, to forgive those who persecuted and eventually crucified Him. Let us therefore be like Jesus, our Saviour and Lord, to truly love all including those who hurt and harm us!
V22 “And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.”
3. Commandment (V23-24)
V23 “And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.”
Loving others is not just God’s commandment, but it is the evidence that we are His children. When we truly love others we shall know that we dwell in God and He dwells in us. Indeed, once we receive Jesus Christ as our Saviour the Spirit of love indwells in us!
V24 “And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.”
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You that I have compassion because Your Spirit indwells in me.
