1 John 3:11 NIV
11 For this is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another.
“The content of the message John’s readers have heard from the beginning is that ‘we should love one another’ (3:11: agapōmen allēlous). The act of loving here is expressed in the present tense, which means this will be our habit. We do not love today and withhold love tomorrow. We must love all the time.” (Ngewa, The Epistles of John: Their Message and Relevance for Today, 56)
At the heart of this command to love is the transformative truth that “a person cannot come into a real relationship with [the] loving God without being transformed into a loving person” (Marshall, The Epistles of John, NICNT, 212)
This is what God is doing in our lives each time we encounter him. We are being transformed into loving people who reflect him.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for inviting us into your presence to experience your love. As transformed people, help us to remain in you and reflect you today in our homes, workplaces, schools, and in all that we do. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.
Let’s worship the Lord in song with “More Like Jesus” by Kristian Stanfill, et.al. (click here)
– MR
