Verse: 1 John 2:9-11
9 If anyone claims to be in the light but hates his brother, he is still in the darkness. 10 Whoever loves his brother remains in the light, and there is no cause of stumbling in him. 11 But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness. He does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes. (BSB)
Devotion
A line from a Don Henley song always sticks with me: “How can love survive in such a graceless age?” While this is a good question, a line from another song also sticks with me: “When all the good I’m doing for you may come in disguise, then look in My eyes, notice all My love for you.” Love is from God. God is love. Love always survives—even in a graceless age.
What is love? Is it a feeling?( Is “love” a noun?) Or, is love a call to action? (Is “love” a verb?) The “key” to understanding God’s love “is to know that this love (the Greek word agape) is not so much a matter of emotion as it is of doing things for the benefit of another person, that is, having an unselfish concern for another and a willingness to seek the best for another.” “The one who loves and unselfishly seeks the best for his [believing] brother lives in the Light, and in him there is no occasion for stumbling or offense [he does not hurt the cause of Christ or lead others to sin].”
I am convicted when I insert my name below (sigh). Try this at home:
[Insert your name here] always:
- Rejoices with the truth
- Keeps every confidence
- Believes all things (i.e., gives others the benefit of the doubt)
- Hopes all things
- Endures all things
[Insert your name here] is:
- Patient
- Kind
Love [Insert your name here] is not:
- Jealous
- Arrogant
- Provoked
Love [Insert your name here] does not:
- Brag
- Act disgracefully (is not rude)
- Seek [my] own benefit
- Keep an account of a wrong suffered
- Rejoice in unrighteousness
- Fail
A “graceless” age is coming. Let us learn to love each other like this!