DAILY DEVOTIONAL TODAY - July 16, 2023 || Our Daily Bread [Daily Devotion] | MamClaireTV

Devotional Message:
(1 John 3:16-17)
We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person?

The heart emoji, heart eyes emoji, two hearts emoji, sparkle heart emoji-are in the list of the top 5 most frequently used emoji. Clearly, we're happy to declare our enthusiasm or affection to the world on social media and in texts!

The love God is offering to us is much more amazing than a simple declaration of enthusiasm, though. Jesus loves us so much that he laid down his life for us, the ultimate sacrifice. Not only that, but Jesus's love also should prompt us to sacrifice for one another: to "lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters."

How could we possibly do that: lay down our lives? The writer of 1 John spells it out for us: we should use our own material possessions - our money, our belongings to help those in need. More difficult than a simple "like" on social media, this action can bring some relief to the suffering of others - and can show the sacrificial love of God to our world.

When you think about what love is, it must include some level of sacrifice. If you are going to love someone and demonstrate that love, at some point it will cost you something. Sometimes these costs can be measured in money, but often the cost is something far more valuable. Love requires a sacrifice of time, talent, possibly treasure, but the real sacrifice of love comes when it costs you something that has real value to you.

In Jesus’ case, he showed us his love by laying down his life for us.

It was LOVE that caused the almighty God to send His only begotten Son into the world to become the sin-sacrifice for the entire race of humanity. It was love that caused