Common Sense for the Wise Christian: Living Out Love and Faith

Devotional

Day 1: Love Is the Fulfillment of the Law

True Christian love is not just a feeling or a word, but the very foundation of our faith and community; it is the old commandment made new in Christ, calling us to love as He loved, sacrificially and without reservation, so that the darkness in and around us is dispelled by His light. When we allow bitterness or division to take root, we risk tearing apart the fabric of our fellowship, but when we act quickly to mend relationships and extend forgiveness, we protect the unity and witness of the church. Let love be the standard by which we measure our actions, remembering that without it, we cannot truly serve or honor God together. [59:13]

Romans 13:8-10 (ESV)
"Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, 'You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,' and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law."

Reflection: Is there a relationship in your life where bitterness or division has started to grow? What is one step you can take today to mend that relationship and let Christ’s love shine through you?

Day 2: Actions Speak Louder Than Words

It is easy to say we love others, but our true character is revealed in how we treat those who are difficult, different, or even hostile toward us; love is not mere sympathy, but empathy and sacrifice, a willingness to serve and care for others regardless of their past or present. When we walk in darkness—harboring hate, pride, or unconfessed sin—we become blind to God’s light and lose our way, but when we choose to love, even those who have hurt us, we reflect the heart of Jesus who loved us while we were still sinners. Our actions, not just our words, are what will draw people to Christ and show them the reality of His grace. [01:09:10]

1 John 2:9-11 (ESV)
"Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling. But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes."

Reflection: Who is someone in your life that you find difficult to love? What is one practical action you can take this week to show them Christlike love, regardless of how you feel?

Day 3: Invest in What Lasts Forever

The world and its desires are passing away, but those who do the will of God will remain forever; it is wise to invest our time, attention, and resources in things that are eternal—God’s Spirit, His Word, and the people around us—rather than chasing after temporary pleasures or status. Like Lot, we can be tempted to choose what looks good on the surface, but true wisdom is found in living for what cannot be lost, and in making daily choices that will echo in eternity. Each day is a gift and an opportunity to mark it with usefulness, love, and faithfulness to God’s calling. [01:23:07]

1 John 2:17 (ESV)
"And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever."

Reflection: What is one way you can intentionally invest in something eternal today—whether it’s encouraging a fellow believer, spending time in God’s Word, or serving someone in need?

Day 4: Community Is Built on Love, Not Agreement

True Christian community is not about agreeing on every detail or preference, but about loving one another deeply, forgiving past hurts, and protecting the fellowship God has given us; without love, we cannot have real community or serve together effectively. We are called to look beyond surface differences and reach out to those who may feel alone or discouraged, making sure that everyone knows they are valued and cared for. Our identity as believers is found in how we love, not in how we judge or separate ourselves from others. [01:01:14]

Colossians 3:12-14 (ESV)
"Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony."

Reflection: Who in your church family or community might need encouragement or a reminder that they are loved? How can you reach out to them today in a tangible way?

Day 5: Let Love Define Your Identity

As followers of Jesus, love should be the very identity that emanates from us wherever we go; we have no right to hate, but every reason to love, because we have received the grace and mercy of God ourselves. People are not drawn to Christ by our judgment or condemnation, but by our willingness to serve, care, and love them unconditionally—even when it is not easy or convenient. Let us be known as a people who over-love, who go out of our way to bless, encourage, and lift up those around us, so that the world may see Christ in us. [01:27:38]

John 13:34-35 (ESV)
"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."

Reflection: What is one way you can let love define your actions and words today, so that others will see Jesus in you?

Sermon Summary

Today’s focus was on the practical, everyday wisdom that God calls us to live out as followers of Jesus, especially in how we love one another. Drawing from 1 John 2:7-17, we explored how the “old command” to love is made new in Christ, who sets the standard for what real love looks like. Love isn’t just a feeling or a word—it’s an action, a choice, and a commitment that shapes our relationships, our church, and our witness to the world. We’re called to deal with conflict quickly, to guard against bitterness, and to refuse to let past hurts or differences divide us.

We looked at how easy it is to judge others by appearances or to let our own pride and unconfessed sin blind us to the needs around us. But the call of Christ is to love deeply, sacrificially, and without reservation—even when it’s hard, even when we’ve been hurt, and even when the world tells us to do otherwise. We’re reminded that our actions speak louder than our words, and that the way we treat each other—especially within the church—reveals the reality of our faith.

We also talked about the dangers of loving the world and its values more than we love God and people. The world’s priorities—pleasure, possessions, pride—are passing away, but the one who does the will of God abides forever. Our lives are shaped by what we pay attention to, who we spend time with, and what we invest in. The only things that last are the things of God: His Spirit, His Word, and the people He’s placed around us.

Ultimately, every day is a gift and an opportunity to love, to forgive, to encourage, and to serve. We’re called to be a church where no one feels alone, where love is given freely and generously, and where the grace we’ve received from God overflows to everyone we meet. Let’s not waste a single day or a single opportunity to love as Christ has loved us.

Key Takeaways

1. Deal with Conflict and Bitterness Early Just as a stitch in time saves nine, addressing issues of division, bitterness, or misunderstanding quickly prevents deeper wounds in our relationships and in the church. When we let small offenses fester, they grow into larger problems that are much harder to heal. God calls us to be proactive in seeking reconciliation and protecting the unity of the body. Don’t feed the seed of bitterness—root it out with love and humility. [57:09]
2. Love Is More Than Words—It’s Sacrificial Action True love is not just sympathy or kind words; it’s empathy, sacrifice, and a willingness to walk with others through their pain. Love means seeing the needs around us, responding with compassion, and being present even when it costs us something. This kind of love is the fulfillment of God’s law and the mark of genuine discipleship. [64:35]
3. Our Relationships Reveal Our Relationship with God The way we treat our brothers and sisters in Christ is a direct reflection of our relationship with God. If we claim to love God but harbor hatred or unforgiveness toward others, we’re walking in darkness. God measures our spiritual maturity not by our knowledge or religious activity, but by our willingness to love, forgive, and serve—even those who have hurt us. [66:06]
4. Guard Your Heart Against the World’s Values Loving the world—its pleasures, possessions, and pride—draws us away from the love of the Father. The world’s values are temporary and ultimately empty, but the things of God are eternal. Be mindful of what you give your attention to, who you allow to influence you, and what you invest your life in. Invest in what lasts: God’s Word, God’s people, and God’s mission. [79:26]
5. Every Day Is an Irrevocable Investment—Choose Love Each day is a gift that can never be reclaimed, and the marks we leave on it will echo into eternity. Don’t waste your days on bitterness, regret, or selfish pursuits. Instead, resolve each morning to invest in love, compassion, and service, so that your life—and the lives you touch—bear witness to the love of Christ.

** [84:13]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[52:19] - Opening and Testimony about Debbie
[54:13] - Rejoicing in All Circumstances
[54:59] - Introduction to 1 John 2:7-17
[56:52] - A Stitch in Time Saves Nine
[58:44] - The New Command: Love as Christ Loved
[60:39] - Guarding Against Bitterness
[62:13] - Don’t Judge a Book by Its Cover
[64:35] - Love in Action: Sacrifice and Empathy
[64:47] - A Friend in Need Is a Friend Indeed
[68:39] - Encouraging and Loving One Another
[68:53] - Actions Speak Louder Than Words
[75:59] - Act Like You Have Good Sense
[77:35] - The Only True Blindness
[79:26] - If You Lie Down with Dogs, You’ll Get Up with Fleas
[81:09] - Pay Attention to What You’re Paying Attention To
[84:13] - Every Day Is an Irrevocable Investment
[85:09] - Invitation to Love and Care
[99:07] - Closing Prayer and Blessing

Bible Study Guide

**Bible Study Discussion Guide: Loving Like Jesus (1 John 2:7-17)**

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### Bible Reading

**1 John 2:7-17 (ESV)**
7 Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard. 8 At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. 9 Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. 10 Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling. 11 But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
12 I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name’s sake. 13 I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, children, because you know the Father. 14 I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

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### Observation Questions

According to 1 John 2:7-8, what is the “old command” and how is it made “new” in Christ?
In verses 9-11, what does John say about the relationship between loving others and walking in the light or darkness?
What are the three things John lists in verse 16 as being “of the world”?
The sermon mentioned that “our actions speak louder than our words.” What examples did the pastor give of this principle in the life of the church? [01:08:53]

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### Interpretation Questions

Why do you think John emphasizes that love is both an “old” and a “new” commandment? How does Jesus make this commandment new? [58:44]
The sermon talked about dealing with conflict and bitterness early. Why is it so important to address issues quickly in relationships, especially in the church? [57:09]
What does it mean to “love the world” according to this passage and the sermon? How can loving the world’s values pull us away from loving God and people? [01:19:26]
The pastor said, “The way we treat our brothers and sisters in Christ is a direct reflection of our relationship with God.” Why is this such a strong statement? Do you agree? Why or why not? [01:06:06]

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### Application Questions

The sermon challenged us to “deal with conflict and bitterness early.” Is there a relationship in your life right now where you need to take the first step toward reconciliation? What’s holding you back? [57:09]
Think of a time when you let a small offense or misunderstanding fester. What was the result? How could things have been different if you had addressed it sooner? [58:09]
The pastor said, “Love isn’t just a feeling or a word—it’s an action, a choice, and a commitment.” What is one practical way you can show sacrificial love to someone in your church or community this week? [01:04:35]
Are there people in your life or in our church that you find hard to love? What would it look like to love them as Christ has loved you? [01:06:06]
The sermon warned about “loving the world”—pleasure, possessions, pride. Is there something in your life right now that is competing with your love for God or people? What step can you take to guard your heart? [01:19:26]
The pastor said, “Every day is an irrevocable investment—choose love.” How can you be more intentional about investing your time and energy in things that last (God’s Word, God’s people, God’s mission) this week? [01:24:13]
The sermon encouraged us to make sure “no one feels alone” in our church. Is there someone you’ve noticed who might be feeling left out or lonely? What can you do to reach out to them this week? [01:25:09]

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**Closing Prayer Suggestion:**
Ask God to help you love others as Christ has loved you, to give you courage to deal with conflict, and to invest your life in what truly matters. Pray for unity, healing, and a spirit of generosity in your group and church.

Sermon Clips

If we lose love, then we lose everything. There's nothing left if we don't love each other. It's all too easy for people, you know, in the church to kind of assume that all of this is gonna happen but it's not the truth. We need to love each other. There are three tests, moral, doctrinal, and love. All stand together like the legs on a stool. We need to love each other. [01:02:43] (28 seconds) #LoveIsEverything

Sometimes it is easy to think following Jesus would be easy if it weren't for all the Christians. Think about this. We're supposed to love our brother. We've all been hurt by church hurt at some point in time. We've had some Christian let us down. Come on, guys. But think about this. If you let that person continue to keep you from God, they're closer to God than you because they're between you and God. We can't do that. [01:05:37] (32 seconds) #OvercomeChurchHurt

Let me say this. Unfortunately, some of these people are Christians who point their fingers at others because they say, look at their sin. Can I remind us that we're all sinners? Some of us, myself included, need to spend a lot of time in the mirror and realize the biggest sinner around is the one looking right at us. We need to love others in spite of their sin. That's exactly what Jesus did. [01:09:41] (27 seconds) #LoveDespiteSin

Accepting people the way they are is not the same as condoning their sin. We don't have to condone their sin, but we need to love everyone. We need to be willing to wash anyone's feet. We need to care for them no matter what. There are too many people in Rustburg, around us, in our culture who think they can't step a foot in church because they'll be judged the moment they get here. That has to stop because all of us are sinners. All of us have a story, right? Come on. [01:10:40] (30 seconds) #LoveWithoutJudgment

The church is not about me, it's about Jesus. It's not about us, it's about Jesus. The church is us as we live this out. If we choose to reflect the world, we're gonna be like the world. The problem is when we try to bring the world into the church and we try to rationalize, it's okay. That's exactly what was happening in John's day. [01:20:35] (22 seconds) #ChurchIsAboutJesus

It's much wiser to invest in the future. It's much wiser to invest our lives into that which cannot be lost that is doing God's will. One commentator reminds us, he says, we are in regular contact with three eternal things. Number one, the Holy Spirit of God. Number two, the people around us. And number three, the eternal word of God as recorded in the scripture. Time, attention, and expense put into those things will pay eternal rewards. [01:22:56] (28 seconds) #InvestInEternity

This is who we are. This is what defines us. Not because we agree on everything, but because we have the same Lord, and who are we to accept the grace and mercy of a loving God and not love each other? Amen? Amen, that's who we are. [01:33:44] (15 seconds) #UnitedInLove

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