THE WEEKEND MESSAGE / DIE NAWEEK BOODSKAP
Philo Love – ‘n Fees van Liefde – The disciple John is recognized fondly among Bible readers as the apostle of love. He dedicated vast portions of his writing to the theme of Christlike love. John asserts that believers can understand genuine love by observing Christ’s example: “By this we know love, that he [Jesus] laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. 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 in truth” (1 John 3:16–18, ESV).
To love in deed and in truth means to demonstrate the authentic quality of our love with our actions, just as Jesus did. Paul communicated a similar message: “Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God” (Ephesians 5:2, NLT).
It is not enough merely to say with our words that we love one another; we must show or prove the truth of our love by our deeds. Jesus said, “I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other” (John 13:34, NLT; see also John 15:12; 1 John 4:11). Paul emphasized the need for us to be genuine: “Love must be sincere” (Romans 12:9).
How did Jesus love us? Jesus loved us in deed and in truth. Even while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8) as “a sacrifice to take away our sin” (1 John 4:10, NLT). Jesus loved us like no other—with everything He had—giving up His own life so that we might live.
James provides an excellent illustration of insincere, unproven love: “Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?” (James 2:15–16). We love “in word” or “in talk” when we only offer empty phrases and well wishes. We may say to someone in need, “I will pray for you,” when what he needs to hear is, “How can I help you?” Real love involves taking steps to meet the needs of others.
True Christian love demands more than words—it calls for action. Loving in deed and in truth will often cost us something and may even hurt us. Jesus explained to His disciples, “If anyone wants to come with Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of Me will find it” (Matthew 16:24–25, HCSB). Following Jesus means pursuing a life of self-sacrifice and servanthood (Mark 10:45; see also Matthew 20:28; Luke 22:27; Philippians 2:6–7).
Jesus said that the highest form of love is sacrifice: “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13, NLT). Rarely as Christians will we be called upon to lay down our lives literally. But if we are to love in deed and in truth, we will have to get up and do something, and that will require our time, money, or other resources. Sincere love flows from our hearts and not just from our mouths; it springs from our hands and feet and not just from our lips. “It is a love that gives without counting the cost, without any thought of return, without first weighing up whether or not such love is deserved—a love that is entirely without self-interest” (Jackman, D., The Message of John’s Letters: Living in the Love of God, InterVarsity Press, 1988, p. 100).
The nature of God’s love is sacrificial (1 Corinthians 13:4–8). In His Word, God gives us the finest definition of what it means to love in deed and in truth: “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him” (John 3:16–17, NLT). God didn’t just say that He loves us; He demonstrated it by sending Jesus to live a life of service and die as a sacrifice for our salvation.
We cannot fully love in deed and in truth without the love of Christ and the Holy Spirit dwelling within us: “We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect” (1 John 4:16–17, NLT). God’s love enables us, like the Good Samaritan, to love our neighbors as we love ourselves (see Luke 10:25–37). When the pure love of Jesus resides in our hearts, we are equipped to love not with empty words or meaningless talk but with genuine acts of kindness and compassion. ///////// Die dissipel Johannes word met liefde onder Bybellesers erken as die apostel van liefde. Hy het groot gedeeltes van sy skryfwerk aan die tema van Christelike liefde gewy. Johannes beweer dat gelowiges ware liefde kan verstaan deur Christus se voorbeeld te sien: “Hieraan ken ons die liefde, dat Hy [Jesus] sy lewe vir ons afgelê het, en ons behoort ons lewe vir die broers af te lê . Maar as iemand die goed van die wêreld het en sy broer in nood sien, maar tog sy hart teen hom sluit, hoe bly God se liefde in hom? Kinders, laat ons nie liefhê met woord of praat nie, maar in daad en waarheid” ( 1 Johannes 3:16-18, ESV ).
Om in daad en in waarheid lief te hê, beteken om die outentieke kwaliteit van ons liefde met ons dade te demonstreer, net soos Jesus gedoen het. Paulus het ‘n soortgelyke boodskap oorgedra: “Leef ‘n lewe gevul met liefde en volg die voorbeeld van Christus. Hy het ons liefgehad en Homself gebring as ‘n offer vir ons, ‘n aangename geur vir God” ( Efesiërs 5:2, NLV ).
Dit is nie genoeg om bloot met ons woorde te sê dat ons mekaar liefhet nie ; ons moet die waarheid van ons liefde deur ons dade wys of bewys. Jesus het gesê: “Ek gee julle ‘n nuwe gebod: Wees lief vir mekaar. Soos Ek julle liefgehad het, moet julle mekaar liefhê” ( Joh. 13:34, NLV ; sien ook Johannes 15:12 ; 1 Joh. 4:11 ). Paulus het beklemtoon dat ons opreg moet wees: “Die liefde moet opreg wees” ( Romeine 12:9 ).
Hoe het Jesus ons liefgehad? Jesus het ons liefgehad in daad en in waarheid. Selfs toe ons nog sondaars was, het Christus vir ons gesterf ( Romeine 5:8 ) as “‘n offer om ons sonde weg te neem” ( 1 Johannes 4:10, NLV ). Jesus het ons liefgehad soos geen ander nie – met alles wat Hy gehad het – en het Sy eie lewe prysgegee sodat ons kan lewe.
James verskaf ’n uitstekende illustrasie van onopregte, onbewese liefde: “Sê nou ’n broer of ’n suster het sonder klere en daaglikse kos. As een van julle vir hulle sê: Gaan in vrede; hou warm en goed gevoed,’ maar doen niks aan hul fisiese behoeftes nie, wat help dit?” ( Jakobus 2:15–16 ). Ons is lief vir “in woord” of “in praatjie” wanneer ons net leë frases en goeie wense bied. Ons kan dalk vir iemand in nood sê: “Ek sal vir jou bid,” wanneer hy moet hoor, “Hoe kan ek jou help?” Ware liefde behels die neem van stappe om in die behoeftes van ander te voorsien.
Ware Christelike liefde vra meer as woorde—dit vra om daad. Om lief te hê in daad en in waarheid sal ons dikwels iets kos en kan ons selfs seermaak. Jesus het aan Sy dissipels verduidelik: “As iemand saam met My wil kom, moet hy homself verloën, sy kruis opneem en My volg. Want elkeen wat sy lewe wil red, sal dit verloor; maar elkeen wat sy lewe aan My verloor, sal dit vind” ( Matteus 16:24-25 ). Om Jesus te volg beteken om ‘n lewe van selfopoffering en diensbaarheid na te streef ( Mark 10:45 ; sien ook Matteus 20:28 ; Lukas 22:27 ; Filippense 2:6–7 ).
Jesus het gesê dat die hoogste vorm van liefde opoffering is: “Daar is geen groter liefde as om jou lewe vir jou vriende af te lê nie” ( Joh. 15:13, NLV ). Selde as Christene sal ons opgeroep word om ons lewens letterlik af te lê. Maar as ons in daad en in waarheid wil liefhê, sal ons moet opstaan en iets doen, en dit sal ons tyd, geld of ander hulpbronne verg. Opregte liefde vloei uit ons harte en nie net uit ons mond nie; dit spruit uit ons hande en voete en nie net uit ons lippe nie. “Dit is ‘n liefde wat gee sonder om die koste te tel, sonder enige gedagte aan terugkeer, sonder om eers op te weeg of sulke liefde verdien of nie – ‘n liefde wat heeltemal sonder eiebelang is” (Jackman, D., The Message of John’s Letters: Living in the Love of God , InterVarsity Press, 1988, p. 100).
Die aard van God se liefde is opofferend ( 1 Korintiërs 13:4–8 ). In sy Woord gee God vir ons die fynste definisie van wat dit beteken om in daad en in waarheid lief te hê: “Want so het God die wêreld liefgehad: Hy het sy enigste Seun gegee, sodat elkeen wat in Hom glo, nie verlore sal gaan nie. maar het die ewige lewe. God het sy Seun na die wêreld toe gestuur nie om die wêreld te oordeel nie, maar om die wêreld deur Hom te red” ( Johannes 3:16-17, NLV ). God het nie net gesê dat Hy ons liefhet nie; Hy het dit gedemonstreer deur Jesus te stuur om ‘n lewe van diens te lei en te sterf as ‘n offer vir ons verlossing.
Ons kan nie ten volle liefhê in daad en in waarheid sonder dat die liefde van Christus en die Heilige Gees in ons woon nie: “Ons weet hoe lief God ons het, en ons vertrou op sy liefde. God is liefde , en almal wat in liefde leef, leef in God, en God leef in hulle. En namate ons in God lewe, word ons liefde meer volmaak” ( 1 Johannes 4:16–17, NLV ). God se liefde stel ons in staat, soos die barmhartige Samaritaan, om ons naaste lief te hê soos ons onsself liefhet (sien Lukas 10:25–37 ). Wanneer die suiwer liefde van Jesus in ons harte woon, is ons toegerus om lief te hê nie met leë woorde of betekenislose praatjies nie, maar met opregte dade van vriendelikheid en deernis.