This verse rocked my world tonight, yet again, so I wanted to share my thoughts with you. Verses will be bold text with my thought in italics.

“…and we ought to lay down our lives for one another. (the end of an important verse that sets up the next two perfectly). But if anyone (that means me, you, the guy across the street or the guy living on the street) has the world’s goods (let’s not pretend like we don’t know what they are) and sees his brother (you, me, the guy across the street or the the guy living on the street) in need, yet closes (active…maybe read it “chooses to close”) his heart against (definition: in opposition to) him, how does God’s love abide in him? (He’s asking…really asking…how does God’s love, which is more powerful than any evil or darkness, abide in them?) Little children, let us not love in word or talk (to impress someone or make yourself feel better) but in deed and in truth (to serve someone and make yourself love better).”

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“…and we ought to lay down our lives for one another. But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and truth.” - 1 John 3:16-18