Scripture – 1 John 3:16-24 NRSVUE https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+John+3%3A16-24+&version=NRSVUE
16 We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us—and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers and sisters. 17 How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help?
18 Little children, let us love not in word or speech but in deed and truth. 19 And by this we will know that we are from the truth and will reassure our hearts before him 20 whenever our hearts condemn us, for God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. 21 Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have boldness before God, 22 and we receive from him whatever we ask, because we obey his commandments and do what pleases him.
23 And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. 24 All who obey his commandments abide in him, and he abides in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit that he has given us.
From Rev. Heather Leffler
We live in a world that encourages us to take care of ourselves and our own. From the time we are infants, we begin accumulating precious things. We save for the future and to leave our loved ones’ inheritances.
Jesus’ love was never limited to his family or even his followers. He gave his life for all of God’s people, creatures and creation. John urges us to see that all the talk about love in worship and study has little meaning if we don’t respond in love to the people around us in our communities and the world.
John tells us we receive from God what we ask. In loving response we are asked to share what we have to love and care for others.
Contemplation and Conversation
What do you have that you might share with someone in need?
Prayer
Loving God, we give you thanks for the teachings of Jesus.
Help us to lessen our thirst for worldly, temporary goods
and to let our hearts be filled with compassion
as we reach out in love to meet the needs of others. Amen.
Rockwood Stone Worship
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