"It matters a great deal who is going to win, but not at all who won"
Recap on love
This is the message that you have heard from the beginning: we should love one another. 1 John 3: 11John here seems to be re-capping and explaining what love looks like. As he unpacks love he suggests four things:
1. Love like this is countercultural “Do not be surprised if the world hates you” (3:13)
2. This love is spiritually significant – “we have passed from death to life because we love each other” (3:14)
3. Love is radical - “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us”. (3:16)
4. Love is practical – “If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother in need...” (3:17)
Love is also practical and you need to work out how to love in situations you face. How do you love:
• The coach who always seems to pick on you;
• The selector who never puts you in the team when there is an alternative;
• The opponent who disrespects you;
• The team mate who does not pull their weight;
• The journalist who does not write the truth about you.
And so on…