Demonstration

Spiritual Essential: Purpose

Reading: 1 John 4:7-12

“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God… This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.” (1 John 4:7, 9)

In the CrossFit Level 2 course, one of the foundational pieces of effective coaching is demonstration. Before an athlete can move well, they need to see what “good” looks like. A coach doesn’t just explain the points of performance — they show them. In the early stages, you demonstrate every movement, every set-up, every starting and finishing position. But over time, demonstration becomes more about execution. At that point, athletes are cueing off the movement patterns you’ve already ingrained in them through demonstration. And seeing athletes move well is at the core of a coaches’ purpose.

That’s the heart of purpose. We define purpose as God’s calling for our lives — not just what we do, but who we are in Christ. It is knowing we were created in advance for good works that bring Him glory. And one of the clearest ways we live out that calling is through love — real, practical, sacrificial love. Not the kind that lives in our heads or on bumper stickers. The kind that shows up in relationships. The kind that demonstrates the heart of God.

1 John 4 says it plainly: “This is how God showed His love…” He didn’t just say it. He sent His Son. Jesus didn’t teach love from a distance. He lived it. He forgave enemies, washed feet, healed the hurting, welcomed the outcast. He is the perfect demonstration of love — and now, as His people, we’re called to do the same.

So how does living with God’s purpose transform our relationships? It starts when we stop viewing love as a theory and start treating it like a skill — one we train, one we teach, one we model. Just like coaching a new movement, we need to demonstrate what love looks like. Patience under pressure. Kindness when it’s inconvenient. Humility when pride wants the spotlight. These are the reps we must stack if we want to experience spiritual fitness.

But here’s the next step — we don’t just teach love. We become the example others follow. Not because we’re perfect, but because God’s love is being perfected in us (v.12). Love becomes more than something we do — it becomes who we are.

So, show them. In your family, in your friendships, in your gym, in your community — demonstrate the kind of love that reveals the heart of God. Because when your life reflects His love, your purpose becomes visible. And that’s when demonstration becomes transformation.

Questions for Reflection:

Who has demonstrated love in your life to you?

What can you do this week to reflect the love of Jesus to others?