Because He Loved
We love because he first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister. 1 John 4:19-21
Insight
"We love because he first loved us."
These eight simple words hold the essence of our faith journey. Our love, our capacity to love, and our ability to love others all begin with God's love for us. Before we could even fathom love, God was loving us. Before we had a chance to earn it, God was pouring out His love upon us. The very source of love, grace, and mercy flows from His heart.
Yet, our understanding of the depths of this love should influence our connections with others. It's not enough to merely acknowledge God's love. We're called to live it out. Verse 20 is a stern reminder: "Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar." Those words may sting a bit, but they're a wake-up call we all need from time to time.
We can't genuinely love God while holding hatred or bitterness towards another person. It's like trying to pour fresh water from a tainted well. Love is meant to be a flowing river, not a stagnant pond. If we're harboring anger, resentment, or unforgiveness in our hearts, it's time to let it go.
Our love for God is intricately tied to our love for one another. God wants us to practice love on the tangible stage of human relationships because it's here that we learn to love as He does.
God is invisible, yet we can see Him in the way we love those around us. When we love sacrificially, forgive unconditionally, and extend grace abundantly, we reflect the very nature of our invisible God. Our love becomes a visible testament to His presence in our lives.
Loving others is not a suggestion or a good idea; it's a command. When we say we love God, it's not enough to profess it with our lips; we must demonstrate it with our lives.
Loving one another is a sacred act of worship. It's our response to the overwhelming love God has poured into our hearts. It's how we carry the torch of His love into a world desperately in need.
Let's be known not just for what we say we believe but for how we love. Let's be a people who embrace this sacred love, allowing it to transform our hearts, our actions, and our world. In doing so, we'll become a living message of the profound truth that love is the ripple effect of God's grace.
Reflection
How does understanding that God's love for us is the source and foundation of our ability to love others impact how you approach your relationships and interactions with others daily?
Can you think of a specific situation or person where you struggle to love someone, perhaps due to anger, resentment, or unforgiveness? Take a moment to pray for this relationship and that individual specifically.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, we come before You today with hearts overflowing with gratitude for the immeasurable love You have poured into our lives. Thank you for loving us first and teaching us to love one another. Help us, Lord, to release any bitterness, anger, or unforgiveness hindering our ability to love as You do. Fill us anew with Your love, that we may be living testimonies to Your grace, reflecting Your love in all our interactions and relationships. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.