The Most Excellent Way
Great Love – Part 2

Scripture Reading: 1 John 3:1-10

Key Verse: 1 John 3:1

 How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

Like yesterday’s devotional, I want us to be astounded by God’s lavish love that has been given to us.  However, the Bible is equally clear that God expects us to pass it on.  A few verses later in this same chapter, John writes, “This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another” (1 John 3:11).  To drive home the point, John writes in 1 John 3:15: “Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer…”

The title I’ve given to this first week of devotionals is: “The Most Excellent Way.”  Let me clarify the word “way.”  The Greek word is “huperbole” and has a literal meaning of superiority or beyond measure.  Jesus came to show us the most excellent way to do life!  This way is superior to all other ways to live.  It is so much better, it’s beyond measure!  Some people think they get things done by using spiteful intimidation—cruel ways.  They may win a battle but they lose the war every time.  They tear up relationships and their communications are truly ineffective because people immediately get defensive in their response to them.

The most excellent way to do life is love!  Love opens people up to us.  Love disarms our enemies; they don’t know what to do with it.  Love is powerful!

Father, when I start to use any other methods to deal with people, please remind me to stop and determine to use the most excellent way!  In Jesus’ name, amen.