Day 337

Daniel 11:2-35; 1 John 3:7-24; Psalm 122:1-9; Proverbs 29:1

IN 1 JOHN TODAY, the apostle asked a provocative question: “If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion —how can God’s love be in that person?” (1 John 3:17).

As stark and rhetorical as John’s question is, attempting to answer it brings up other questions. For example, does God bestow His love and blessing on us for our benefit alone? Or does He love and bless us so that He can then love and bless through us? After all, John quoted these words of Jesus in his Gospel: “Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples” (John 13:35).

In answering John’s question, we begin to see the same point James and Peter made —we can’t claim a faith that has no action behind it. Neither can we claim to walk in God’s love if we have no outflow of that love beyond ourselves. True faith and love compels us to act. John said it this way:

Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. Our actions will show that we belong to the truth, so we will be confident when we stand before God.

In other words, we are assured that God’s love is in us and that He is loving through us when we become willing to give that love away. This begins to peel back the layers and exposes the ways we assume lack. We hoard God’s blessing as if the supply is limited. This leads us to become self-absorbed and selfish, which, according to John, reveals that God’s love is absent.

Let’s look at this another way. The Dead Sea is a geographical landmark that we’ve encountered many times on our journey through the Scriptures this year. It is the lowest point on earth. Water continually flows into it but never flows back out. Because of this, there is no life —which is why it’s called the Dead Sea.

Conversely, the Sea of Galilee is the next body of water to the north. Water flows from the mountains, filling the Sea of Galilee, which then feeds the Jordan River, which brings life to the countryside. Despite the billions of gallons of fresh water flowing out of the Sea of Galilee, it has not run dry for thousands of years. Neither has it grown stagnant, because new water is continually flowing into it.

John’s challenge was for us to realize that there is no shortage of God’s love. We will experience this reality, however, only when our hearts are open and flowing with it rather than closed off and stagnant.

This is a compelling picture of our reality, but it challenges us to examine ourselves. Are we living in lack because we are selfish? If so, then we are becoming stagnant, and, as in the Dead Sea, we’ll find no life on that path.

If our hearts are open, then we will be compelled to more than lip service. We will be compelled to love. Much to our surprise, we will find that the more love that flows out of us, the more we are filled anew. With God’s love, there is no lack, and we can remain full. He will give us whatever we ask, because whatever we ask will align with His wishes (1 John 3:22).

In this season, let’s remember that the greatest gift we can offer is our open hearts. God can do miraculous things through the open hearts of His children —as we’ve seen all year in the Bible. The reservoir of His love for the world has not been depleted, and we are invited to be an oasis that never runs dry. Let’s not only say, “Joy to the world, the Lord has come!” Let’s announce it loud and clear, with openhearted love flowing through us from the very heart of God.

MEDITATION:

Pray for peace in Jerusalem. May all who love this city prosper. O Jerusalem, may there be peace within your walls and prosperity in your palaces. For the sake of my family and friends, I will say, “May you have peace.” For the sake of the house of the LORD our God, I will seek what is best for you, O Jerusalem.