DCLM Higher Everyday 14 December 2023 — Lay Down Your Life In Love
Topic: Lay Down Your Life In Love
Text: 1 John 3:15-18
15Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.
17But 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?
18My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
Key Verse: “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” (1 John 3:16).
Message
Love is the mark of a true Christian and sacrifice is the mark of true love. Throughout our lives, we will all be required to sacrifice something for the sake of something. We sacrifice time to build relationships that are important to us. We sacrifice our money to invest in a greater good. We sacrifice our energy to serve others. Ultimately, sacrifice is one of the greatest ways to show love. Jesus Christ offers us the greatest example of true love. Not only did He sacrifice His life on the cross, but He also made many sacrifices during His lifetime. He gave up many privileges in order to serve those He loved.
We are called to follow His steps, to lay down our lives for the brethren. You may not be called to go to the cross to die for others, but you will be called to do somethings for others: listen to their concerns and complains, forgive their faults and failures, provide for their needs and necessities. Give up part of your life and resources, and meet somebody’s need. That is sacrificial love.
Quote: Sacrifice is the mark of true love
Challenge: We must follow Christ’s example.
Prayer for today: Lord, grant me the grace to love as you did on earth.
1. Admit that you are a sinner. "For all [humans] have sinned, and comes short of the glory of God....[and] the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 3:23)
2. Repent now. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out ...[for] if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness " (Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9)
3. Believe that God loves you and Jesus died for you. "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet Sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
4. Invite Jesus into your life through prayer of faith. Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20)
