December 10, 2018—1 John 3:17-18

But whoever has this world’s good, and sees his brother have need, and shuts up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwells the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
– 1 John 3:17-18

Thoughts on Today’s Bible Verse:

This verse tells us loving God should have practical expression. If we are rich and see our brothers and sisters have needs, but we don’t help them, then we don’t have a God-loving heart. True love between brothers and sisters are not verbal. It means we help brothers and sisters in deed and in truth. For example, some brother or sister is well off and sees that others are poor and have difficulty. However, he does not help them in deed but just prays for them and asks the Lord to help them. Outwardly he has a loving heart. In fact, his love is just verbal. He only cares about his own eating and clothing but never donates his money blessed by God to the poor. No matter how poor brothers and sisters are, he pretends not to see it. Such people don’t love God at all. Such people don’t love their brothers and sisters, how can they love God? And much less will they expend for and devote themselves to God. Those who truly love God can dedicate their entire being to God. They can also love brothers and sisters. If they see others have difficulty, they will certainly help them. In fact, helping one another is a good deed that believers in God should prepare, because those good deeds are the testimony of our true faith in God as well as the testimony of our true repentance. Without good deeds, how can we say we are good people and have conscience? How can God approve of such people who are paying lip service?