TRUE LOVE

1 John 4:7,8
As Christians, love must define our lives always.
God is love. That is why he has never failed in all that he has don from creation to date.
Everything that God does is perfect because it is done in love.

Let us examine briefly three qualities of love that will help us continue to glorify God.

1. LOVE MUST BE SINCERE

Romans 12:9,10
Love must be sincere. It is not love if it is not sincere, because love is built on love and sincerity. When you write a letter, you sign out "sincerely so and so" because you are assuring the recipient of how genuine you are.

Q. Do you sincerely love your brothers and sisters?
Q. How devoted to others are you? Do you honour others above yourself?

Romans 13:10
Sincere love is not harmful at all; instead it is peaceful and helpful. So we must

• Correct each other in love, not out of malice.
• Confess sincerely without fear.
• Help each other out of a sincere heart, and not begrudgingly.
• Worship God sincerely and earnestly, for this is really the love that God accepts.

2. LOVE IS SACRIFICIAL

1 John 4:9-12
God showed his love by sending his one and only Son to come live with us and then to be an atoning sacrifice for our sins. That is sacrificial love. Bearing this in mind, we ought to have a sacrificial love for others.

1 John 3:16-20
Just as Christ lay down his life for others, let us do the same. How?
- sacrifice your time to visit and encourage those who are sick and bereaved.
- Sacrifice your money and material possessions to help those who are in need.
- Sacrifice your energy - you might be tired, but deny yourself to visit and help someone who is weak in their faith and spiritual walk.

Q. How clearly do your actions say that you love others? Are you as generous as you should be with your money, possessions and time?

Love our love be sacrificial.

3. LOVE BEARS FRUIT

When you have loved others sincerely and you have sacrificed in love, this will have an impact on many. And as a result, those who do not know Christ will accept and follow him.

John 13:34,35
The world will be impacted by our love for one another and for them. Jesus appointed us to go and bear fruit - by loving the lost, the very thing that he demonstrated.
Think about it, you became a Christian because someone loved you, sacrificed time for you, and did many other things to be there for you and to teach you. Now, do the same for others and you will bear fruit.

Acts 2:47
Many people were impacted by the love of the disciples hence they accepted the gospel.

Let us love sincerely and sacrificially and we shall bear fruit as we advance God's kingdom.

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