November 17
“Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you. We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death. Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth,” 1 John 3:13-18.
Real love, true brotherly love – that is the subject of these verses!
John writes, “Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you.” The world hates Christians because the world does not know the meaning of genuine brotherly love. The world has not seen the love of God revealed through Christ Jesus. It should not surprise us when the world hates us.
Remember the word of the Lord Jesus: “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin,” John 15:18-22. The world is turned in on itself. It loves itself. Many years ago, a song was written titled, “I Love Me!”
John says, “We know that we have passed from death to life.” We, as Christians, have gone from spiritual death, not knowing God, to spiritual life, trusting in Jesus as our Lord and Savior. We demonstrate that faith by our love for the brethren. Where there is no love for our brethren, spiritual death abides. Where there is no love for our brethren, hatred fills the vacuum. And, John writes, “Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.” Hatred is murder in God’s sight. No, you might not kill your brother, but you intensely wish that he were dead!
Now John gives us the true picture of real love: “By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us.” Our eyes are directed to Calvary, where Jesus laid down His life to redeem all people who ever lived, who are living now, and who will live in the future. At the beginning of this chapter, John wrote, “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him,” 1 John 3:1.
John also gives us an example of failing to show love. “Whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?” John’s concluding words are so important: “Let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.” Behold how Jesus in deed and in truth showed His love for the unloving, for sinners, as He suffered and died to redeem us all! “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved,” Acts 16:31.
“Love Divine, all love excelling,
Joy of heav’n, to earth come down;
Fix in us Thy humble dwelling,
All Thy faithful mercies crown.
Jesus, Thou art all compassion,
Pure, unbounded love Thou art;
Visit us with Thy salvation,
Enter ev’ry trembling heart.” Amen.