1 Jn 3:16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 1Jn 3:17 But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? 1Jn 3:18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
We know God loves us because Jesus was willing to suffer and die for us. We know He loves us by what He has done. In the same way, those around us will know our love by what we do. One of the measures of our love is how we respond to our brothers and sisters needs. True love will be moved with compassion, as Jesus was. If we are not moved to help, our claim to have the love of God is simply not true. Let’s be challenged to show the reality of God’s love in how we live and how we respond to the needs around us.