Real Love (1 John 3) The Message

People conceived and brought into life by God don't make

a practice of sin. How could they? God's seed is deep within them,

making them who they are. It's not in the nature of God-born to practice

and parade sin. Here's how you tell the difference between God's children

and the Devil's children: The one who won't practice righteous ways isn't from God,

nor is the one who won't love brother or sister. A simple test.

This is how we come to understand and experience love: Christ sacrificed his life

for us. This is why we should live sacrificially for our fellow believers, and not

be just out for ourselves. If you see some brother or sister in need and have the means to

do something about it and turn a cold shoulder and do nothing, what happens to God's love?

It disappears. And you made it disappear.

My dear children, let's not just talk about love; let's practice real love. This is the only way

we'll know we are living truly, living in God's reality. It's also the way to shut down debilitating

self-criticism, even when there is something to it. For God is greater than our worried hearts

and knows more about us than we do ourselves.

timeforINRI