Today’s 333 Devotional: “Love: The Great Apologetic”

Whenever we hear the word “apology” we think of its more common usage, which is “an admission of error, or the acknowledging of a fault.”

But the term “apologetics” comes from the Greek word that literally means to speak in defense of something. Early Christians who defended the faith were then called “apologists.”

So, by saying that love is the great apologetic what I’m saying is that love is the greatest defense of the gospel message we can give.

“And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides God, and God in him.” (1 John 4:16)

God is love, but God is also truth.

“He is the Rock, His work is perfect; for all His ways are justice, a God of truth and without injustice; righteous and upright is He.” (Deuteronomy 32:4)

In His prayer to the Father for His disciples Jesus asked, “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth … that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.” (John 17:17, 21)

Jesus also said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” (John 14:6a)

To sanctify means to set apart, and to make holy and pure. And so, our faith in Jesus should engender love, love for God and love for one another, or what Jesus called the greatest commandment. Love is therefore the Great Commandment.

Further, it’s by this love that others will know that we’re truly believers in Jesus Christ, so love is also the Great Authenticator.

And when Jesus asked the Father to sanctify and set us apart, and that by this act of love the world will know that He is truly sent by the Father, and that He is the way, truth, and life, then love truly is the Great Apologetic.