By this we know love.

1 John 3:16, By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.

This is one of my favorite verses, and it’s interesting to compare it with the Father’s love expressed by John earlier, that He so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him may have eternal life. Jesus came to live the perfect, sinless life, to lay down His life for us on the cross and to take it up again in resurrection! He has raised us from death into eternal life justifying us before a Holy God to be adopted as His own sons and daughters. By His great mercy and grace we are seen as pure and Holy in the Father’s eyes. Jesus calls us to take up our cross and follow Him. “For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” Am I willing to count the cost and follow Him?

We thank You for the power to follow You wherever You call us!

ESV Lectionary