1 John 3:16 By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?18 My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. 

I talked to a brother in the faith this week, someone with very different paths growing up, yet God put the city streets and the farmer together for a short time at a church in downtown Charlotte. We just gelled, it made no sense, yet we laughed and shared faith and testimonies. We walked the city streets knocking on doors and I saw the boldness of an evangelist in him. Facebook keeps us in touch, and I was able to help him out this week when he was in a bind. We talked about swallowing our pride, and the humbling of doing so before God, and how that was a big part of both our testimonies. I still struggle greatly with pride, every single day. God has went to great lengths to humble me physically, yet I still stick my chest out and press forward, even as hands tremble like only those close to me know. God opened my eyes to the “beggers” at our intersections, opened my eyes where I had a hardened heart for so many years. Who am I to roll up the windows and display a hardened Christian heart towards some that has been humbled by God too?

John was known as the one whom Jesus loved; there was a special relationship between Jesus and John. John wrote so much about love in all his epistles and the gospel of John. When you look at the passage above, you see the “look what Jesus did for you” in verse seventeen; you see the “do you not understand?” in John’s plea. How can we not sacrifice to any degree in honor of the One who gave the ultimate sacrifice for us? If we say that we love Jesus, why can we not put actions to the words? James writes about it much also. 2:14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. 18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe–and tremble! 20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?  God is going to ask us to give an account for all our lives, the sins and the faith we proclaimed. What will be our reply?

This world is rapidly moving away from everything the Bible and Christianity stand for. Truth is lost, salvation is universal, self worth is praised, and punishment is withheld so as not to offend. Right and wrong have become blurred, and the hate for the Christian who stands on biblical values will increasingly become condemned. John 15:17 These things I command you, that you love one another. 18 “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. The next time you see someone in need, reach out and lend a helping hand, you might be entertaining and angel unknowingly. That guy blowing his horn behind you might be touched by God in a way you can’t imagine, and they might get humbled too. God works in mysterious ways to grow his kingdom, and a smile on your face in this world of fear will cover a multitude of sins.