1 John: What Does Love Require of Me?

What Does Love Require of Me? A Reflection from the Pastor's Heart

Good morning, dear friends! As I stand before you today, I am filled with gratitude for the opportunity to share in this sacred space with all of you. It’s a joy to see familiar faces and to welcome new ones into our community. Today, I want to reflect on a question that has been resonating in my heart: What does love require of me?

This question is not just a passing thought; it’s a profound inquiry that can transform our lives and our relationships. As we gather in God’s presence, I invite you to ponder this question throughout our time together. It’s easy to get caught up in the routines of church life, but I believe that this question can lead us to deeper understanding and action.

You see, love is at the core of our faith. It’s what Jesus modeled for us. When we think about love, we often find ourselves grappling with the complexities of human relationships. I know I do. There are people in our lives who challenge us, who hurt us, and who make it difficult to love. I can relate to the struggle of wanting to protect my children from those who mistreat them. It’s a natural instinct, isn’t it? But here’s the truth: the best way to honor God is to love His children. When we love others, we express our love for God.

As we dive into the Scriptures, we find that John reminds us of an old command that is also new: to love one another. This command is not just a suggestion; it’s a directive that Jesus emphasized during His time on earth. In 1 John 2:7-11, we see that anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in darkness. This is a powerful reminder that our love for others is a reflection of our relationship with God.

But let’s be honest—loving others is not always easy. We live in a world that often feels dark and divided. It’s easy to fall into the trap of old models of religion that focus on rules and rituals rather than genuine love. We can become so consumed with our own spiritual checklist that we forget the essence of our faith: to love God and love people.

Jesus came to replace the old model of worship with something new. He calls us to focus on the “you beside you.” This means that our faith is not just about us; it’s about how we treat those around us, even those we may not naturally gravitate towards. Jesus’ command to love one another as He has loved us is a radical call to action.

So, what does love require of us? It requires us to look beyond ourselves and to consider the needs of others. It means being generous, telling the truth, and refraining from gossip—not just because the Bible says so, but because love compels us to do so. When we act out of love, we fulfill the law and the prophets.

As we reflect on this, I want to challenge each of you to ask yourself: *What does love require of me in my family, my workplace, and my community?* Imagine the impact we could have if we all committed to living out this question. It could change our families, our church, and even our city.

In closing, I want to remind you that love is not just a feeling; it’s an action. It’s about doing for others what we would do for Jesus. As we take a moment of silence to reflect, I encourage you to listen for God’s voice. What is He asking you to do? What does love require of you today?

Thank you for being here, for being part of this journey with me. Let’s go forth and love one another, just as Christ has loved us.