1 John, Day 4
When Love Breaks Through (1 John 3:10 – 24)
By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers (1 John 3:16).
As he sat in his car, he didn’t know what he was going to say to the love of his life. A few decisions he had made would shake up the relational ecosystem of their lives, sending shock waves through their family, friends, and acquaintances. Feelings driven by embarrassment and failure shredded his soul. He had tried to get out of the car twice, but something kept him sitting there, knowing that nothing was ever going to be the same. He finally left the car, and he was welcomed home by his wife. They had their issues, but he had no idea what her reaction would be to the tangled web of lies and deceit that surrounded their relationship. They sat down in the living room and he began to share the mess that he had made. His confessions filled the room with insight into so many sinful decisions — decisions that were affecting every aspect of their lives and were wreaking havoc on the relationships he valued the most.
After the catalog of confessions, the moment came for her response. She was silent for a few moments and gathered herself. She finally looked up at him and said, “I love you.” Immediately, she backed away. In her heart, she knew there was going to be a long journey ahead if they were going to put the pieces of their lives back together. She was visibly wounded and distraught, but there was something else. It was evident that she had peace. The conversation went on into the night as they remembered their journey together. They discussed the intersections of joy and pain that they had experienced. She made him answer the tough questions, and then asked him to sleep in the guest bedroom. He was just happy he wasn’t asked to leave.
As he walked to his room, there was a freedom found in the confession of his sins. He opened the Bible in the guest room and read, “whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother” (1 John 3:10a). He fell to his knees and cried out to God for forgiveness and insight into the path of reconciliation necessary for him and his wife. He kept reading and saw John’s words about knowing love. He needed insight in that area in these moments. John wrote, “By this we know love, that Jesus laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.” That was it. He realized that he had become self-centered to such an extent that his decisions did not reflect a heart for the God Who loved Him. He was overwhelmed by his need for grace in these moments — grace only available because of the love of Jesus, and the sacrifice He made on the cross for him. When he got to the end of the passage, he felt the Spirit speaking into his life these words, “Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and truth” (1 John 3:18). He thought about all the lies he had told, wondering if his bride would ever trust him again. He thought about all the missed opportunities to build their marriage that he did not take advantage of, opting instead for a secret life that led to destruction. He wondered if it was a relationship that could ever be truly restored.
He then began to pray. After a few hours, he was awakened by the sun. For him on this stressful morning, it was a reminder of God’s presence in this terrible situation. He wiped the sleep out of his eyes as he made his way to the kitchen, and there she was. He looked at her, and said, “I’m sorry.” She acknowledged his apology, and asked him, ”How did you sleep?” He replied, “Well . . . ,” and then he paused and just watched her make breakfast and started to realize that there was hope. He was also very aware of the reality that only through the power of the Spirit could their marriage survive and thrive.
A few years later, the couple was backstage at a conference preparing to share their story again — their story of redemption that for many was hard to believe. However, it was their belief in God’s restorative power for their relationship that led to their story of reconciliation. In their case, their path to reconciliation was driven by a love that came directly from the heart of God. It came down to a choice to believe that God could do what most thought was impossible. They chose to love each other in word and deed. They chose to live in a raw, truth-driven reality of the brokenness in both their lives, and made a commitment to protect their marriage no matter what came their way. It was a path marked by disappointments, apologies, and forgiveness. But it was different this time because their actions matched their words as they did life together. They both praised God for the night of conviction in his life as they shared their story. They praised God for stepping in and starting the renewal process in their marriage on that devastating night. They celebrated their journey together driven by authentic love and connection through the power of the Holy Spirit.1
In the passage for today, we see the destructiveness of sin in contrast to the power of love. Choosing righteousness leads to holiness, reconciliation, and renewal. Reconciliation and renewal lead to authentic relationships with each other and with God. My prayer for us today is that we choose to live in truth with each other, embracing each spiritual season that God places us in — seeking the “Spirit whom he has given us,” every step of the way (1 John 3:24).
Pastor Chuck
1 This story is fictional and not based on any true events.