How we know love

 

By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? – 1 John 3.16-17

 

What is the test for love? How do we know when love is real?

 

It’s a big test. Look at the example John uses – Jesus proved His love when He died on Calvary. There was no greater gift of love that He could have His love when He died on Calvary.

 

We may or may not be called on to literally give our lives for one another. The day may one day come when we need to.

 

The question though is whether we are giving up our lives while we live them. Am I willing in the here and now to lay down my life for me friends? Who comes first, them or me? Who gets the biggest piece of the pie?

 

Laying down our loves doesn’t only mean we are willing to die. It means that we are wiling to lay down our lives daily as we live. We lay down our lusts and our desires and our wants and whims for others. Are we laying down our lives as we live? That is the true test of whether or not we love.