1 John 3:11-24

This one passage in 1 John may be worth the whole book. It is certainly what makes this book one of my favorites in the New Testament. The message from the beginning- We should love one another. And love is "with actions and in truth" (1 John 3:18). Words are powerful, certainly, and I don't think John is putting down words. He is using several of them in his letter. But he's also using words as an inspiration of action.

John makes an interesting move here, and not one I hear very often. John connects the sacrifice of Jesus to caring for the poor. How is God's love in us if we have no concern for the people around us? And with earthquakes in Haiti, high unemployment in the country (and especially in this state), there are plenty of opportunities for our compassion. But true compassion does not come out of guilt or shame, it comes out of love. True compassion is not because we are different, but because we are similar. We are part of the family of God, and families look out for one another. When we are wracked with guilt, we live out of anxiety. And that's no way to live. This passage says that we can "set our hearts at rest in his presence" (1 John 3:20). We do not need to condemn ourselves, we can live instead out of love. And love drives out fear (which we will see later in the book), drives out guilt and drives out shame. All that is left is the ability to connect with people and show each other God's love (and also to be open to receive God's love, too!). May God place people in your way today whom you can love and be loved by. Amen.