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Dec 1.97: Light for the Day - " God Is Love ... But What Are You?"
"Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought
to love one another. No one has ever seen God, but
if we love one another, God lives in us and his love
is made complete in us."
-- 1John 4:11-12(NIV)
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"God Is Love ... But What Are You?"
When I first met Jan, I was impressed with her. She
was so different. Upbeat. Kind. Giving. One of the
most caring and unselfish people I've ever known.
I had met nice people before, but Jan was
exceptionally nice.
It wasn't until later that I learned Jan was suffering
from a terminal illness. Jan had every reason to be
depressed and think only of herself and her pain.
But instead, she found ways to show care and
concern for her friends. Most of all, she knew how
to love others.
As I got to know her better, I realized it was God
working in Jan's life that made her different. In fact,
I was discovering something of what God "looked"
like, because I could see his love in Jan, my
unselfish friend.
Knowing Jan taught me a lot about love and
friendship. But most of all, Jan pointed me to a
greater love--the love of God. As I grew to better
understand God's love, I became a new person.
Now, in my friendships and the way I treat my family,
I want to copy that unselfish love that comes from
God. I want my friends to know they can count on
me. I want the members of my family to know they
are appreciated. And now when I encounter
misunderstanding, when I feel impatient, when I'm
misunderstood, when I'm tempted to act selfishly,
I ask myself: How will God's love within me act?
We love God, because God first loved us. And we
can show God our love by loving others. Think of
someone in your life who needs your concern.
Your care for that person is your love note to God.
"And God has given us this command:
Whoever loves God must also love his brother"
-- 1John 4:21
-- Jim Long
source: "Campus Life 97"
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Love wasn't put in your heart to stay;
Love isn't love until you give it away. - Anon.-
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