Passing the Love Test

I used to run 5k races, and my favorite moment was always when the finish line came into view. That final burst of energy and focus carried me to the end. In many ways, the letters of John in the New Testament serve as that same burst of encouragement for our faith—helping us focus on what really matters as we run the race of life.
John, who walked closely with Jesus, wrote with urgency. False teachers were twisting the gospel, and John wanted believers to know how to spot authentic faith. He offered three simple but profound tests:

1.    The Truth Test – Do we confess that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God?
2.    The Life Test – Do we obey His commands and live out our faith?
3.    The Love Test – Do we love one another with God’s love?

It’s this third test—the Love Test—that John emphasizes most, and for good reason.
We all think we understand love. We say we love pizza, our pets, sunsets, and of course, the people closest to us. But John uses the Greek word agape—a word that points to God’s unconditional, sacrificial love. He uses it 46 times in his letters to remind us that Christian love is not a feeling or an idea; it’s action.
John writes, “We know what real love is because Jesus gave His life for us. So we also ought to give our lives for our brothers and sisters” (1 John 3:16). Real love is active, not passive. It’s more than good intentions or kind words. It’s expressed in tangible ways—meeting needs, showing compassion, serving others—even when it’s inconvenient.
Sometimes we reduce love to polite words: “If you need anything, let me know.” But genuine love doesn’t wait for an invitation; it looks for opportunities to step in. And authentic love is also willing to speak the truth. Serving without honesty can leave people stuck. Sometimes the most loving thing we can do is gently tell someone a hard truth, and sometimes the most humbling act is to listen when someone speaks it to us.
John also knew how hard it was to love those closest to us. Think about the disciples. They argued constantly, came from different backgrounds, and often clashed. And yet, as they followed Jesus, they learned to love one another despite their flaws. That’s what real love looks like—not short-term politeness but long-term commitment, even through conflict and differences.
Ultimately, John points us back to God’s example: “This is real love—not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins” (1 John 4:10). God’s love is not abstract; it’s personal. It’s a love that calls us His children, a love that never gives up, a love that both accepts us as we are and calls us to grow.
Maybe today you’re searching for that kind of love. Or maybe you’ve experienced it before but pushed Jesus aside. Revelation 3:20 reminds us that Jesus still stands at the door and knocks. He doesn’t force His way in, but if we open the door, He promises fellowship and closeness.
And when we live in that love, we can pass all three tests of authentic faith—the Truth Test, the Life Test, and most importantly, the Love Test.