Similar to joining the military, when you become a Christian and join the church, you immediately find yourself among brothers and sisters in the faith. God welcomes as his children all who place their faith in him (1 John 3:1). As beloved children of God through Jesus, we have a perfect example of love toward our brothers and sisters. John writes, “By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth” (1 John 3:16-18). Just like soldiers who put their lives on the line in real-life combat and in cinematic portrayals like Saving Private Ryan, we too can lay down our lives, in generosity, time, listening, or whatever capacity our brothers and sisters need. This is the radical love we have been brought into.
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