Verse of the Day
Sunday, April 6, 2025
1 John 3:16
We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us—and we ought to lay down our lives for one another.
Introduction
Love is a word often spoken but less often lived. In a world filled with fleeting emotions and self-centered pursuits, the apostle John reminds us of what true love really looks like. It's not poetic or passive—it’s sacrificial. In this single verse, we are given both the definition of divine love and the challenge to live it out.
Commentary
John doesn’t leave us guessing what love is—he points directly to Christ’s act on the cross. Jesus didn’t simply speak about love; He demonstrated it by laying down His life for humanity. This act becomes the measuring stick for all love. The second part of the verse is equally profound: "we ought to lay down our lives for one another."
This isn’t just a poetic notion. It’s a call to radical discipleship—living with a love so deep that we would be willing to sacrifice for the sake of others. In the original Greek, the word used for “laid down” implies a voluntary act. Jesus chose to lay down His life, and we, too, are called to choose self-giving love as our way of life.
Understanding the Context
John wrote this letter to encourage believers to live righteously and love one another as evidence of their relationship with God. In the surrounding verses of chapter 3, he contrasts the children of God with the children of the devil, drawing a stark difference between a life of love and a life of hatred.
Verse 16 sits at the heart of this contrast. The backdrop is clear: love must be more than words; it must be expressed in action. John is not speaking metaphorically—he is calling the early Christian community to be prepared, even to the point of martyrdom, for one another. It’s a continuation of Jesus’ teachings found in John’s Gospel (John 15:13), where Jesus says, “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”
Application for Today
While we may not often be called to physically die for someone, we are certainly called to live sacrificially. What does it look like to “lay down your life” today?
It could mean sacrificing time to sit with someone who’s grieving.
It might be setting aside your preferences to serve someone else’s needs.
It may look like standing up for someone being mistreated or making financial sacrifices to help someone in need.
The challenge is to ask ourselves daily: Am I choosing to love in a way that costs me something? Real love disrupts comfort and demands action.
Reflection
Christ showed us what love looks like—total, self-giving, and freely offered. What would it take for us to love one another in that same spirit? Spend some quiet time today asking God to reveal areas in your life where you can love more deeply and sacrificially. Pray for the courage to live a life that reflects the heart of Jesus, laying down pride, fear, or convenience for the sake of another.
The Bible texts are from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) Bible, copyright © 1989, 1993 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Verse of the Day is a daily inspirational and encouraging Bible verse extracted from BibleGateway.com. Commentary by Kenny Sallee, ThM.
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