Our theme for this month: “Wisdom”
Our Bible verse for today: “If anyone has this world’s goods and sees his brother in need but closes his eyes to his need – how can God’s love reside in him? Little children, we must not love with word or speech, but with truth and action.” 1 John 3:17-18 (HCSB)
Our thought for today: “Biblical wisdom leads us to care for other Christians.”
The letter of 1 John was written by the Apostle John in the last years of his life. By that time he had long been known as “The Apostle of Love”. The reason was that John was a true pastor. He had a huge heart for his people. He longed to see them grow and mature in Christ and he knew that one of the most important measures of how mature a Christian is, is how much love they show for their brothers and sisters in God’s family. Demonstrating love for one another within the family of God was one of John’s most frequently taught lessons. “If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For the person who does not love his brother he has seen cannot love the God he has not seen. And we have this command from Him: The one who loves God must also love his brother.” 1 John 4:20-21
As we’ve learned in previous devotionals so far this month, the people of God have been called by God to be salt and light out there in the world. We are to go out among those who don’t know God and bless them in the name of God. The more spiritually mature we are – the wiser in the ways of God that we have become – the more of that we will do. But even before that, we are to be a blessing to those within the family. We are to take care of our brothers and sisters – if one of them is hurting and in need they should get the first and best of our attention.
Pastor John, this big-hearted Apostle of Love, wanted his people to display their spiritual maturity and their godly wisdom by caring for one another. That lesson applies to us too. We must love one another – really love one another, and it must be demonstrated in deeds rather than just expressed in words. We have to take care of each other.
Has the Holy Spirit brought to your attention a brother or sister who is struggling in some way? Is one of them unemployed and in desperate need of a job? Spend some time today looking for job leads for them. Is a family in your church struggling to make ends meet financially? You could give an anonymous love offering to help and encourage them, or buy them a box of groceries, or bring a meal to their house. Does someone have an unfaithful spouse or a wayward teen? Maybe they need someone who will just sit and listen. You could be that person. Make some time this week to visit a shut-in or someone in a nursing home. How can you be a blessing to a brother or sister today?
“Little children, we must not love with word or speech, but with truth and action.” 1 John 3:18
God Bless,
Oak Hill Baptist Church 