praying effectively: Love in Deed and Truth (1John 3:15-18)

(Luke 3:15-18)  Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer; and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. 16 We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17 But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? 18 Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.

Reminder:  "praying effectively" involves knowing God's will.  When we pray in His will (in His name), He may choose to not answer those prayers in the time period that we would like, or HOW we would like - but He will answer those prayers!

It is God's will:

- that we love our fellow believers with sacrificial and unconditional love (3:16)

- that we love our fellow believers with deed and truth, so that when we see another Christian in need, we should physically help them with sincere, godly love (3:17-18)

Today's prayer:

Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for dying on the cross for all sin, for all people, for all time - because of the love You have for us.  Guide us to be more like You.  Help us to love!  Convict our hearts when it is time to step up and actually do something.  Make it obvious and give us wisdom to effectively and appropriately show Your love to others when situations and opportunities arise.  All to Your glory, amen.