More Than Talk

SCRIPTURE: Jeremiah 28-30; 1 John 3

1 John 3:18-24
My dear children, let’s not just talk about love; let’s practice real love. This is the only way we’ll know we’re 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.

And friends, once that’s taken care of and we’re no longer accusing or condemning ourselves, we’re bold and free before God! We’re able to stretch our hands out and receive what we asked for because we’re doing what he said, doing what pleases him. Again, this is God’s command: to believe in his personally named Son, Jesus Christ. He told us to love each other, in line with the original command. As we keep his commands, we live deeply and surely in him, and he lives in us. And this is how we experience his deep and abiding presence in us: by the Spirit he gave us.

OBSERVATIONS: Self-giving, self-sacrificing love is the key to shutting down debilitating self-criticism. It is the authentic mode of living as Christ exemplified and taught us to live. This is the experience of God’s presence in all things.

APPLICATION: Joey, get busy living the life you preach. Go do more of the things you talk about. Bring others into this life of My reality. I’m greater than your worries. I’m stronger than your fears. And the only thing that matters is love — constant, life-giving, authentic love expressed and shared with as many people as you encounter in your life.

PRAYER: God, your love is amazing — like a maze, confusing. You show us love we don’t deserve, even when we are slow or even resistant to showing it to those around us. But you forgive and keep on forgiving. The patience you show isn’t infinite, and our reckoning is upon us. But you are the only one who has the power and authority of condemnation. Thank you for your grace and for your love. In Christ, amen.