1 John 4:7-21

God’s Love and Ours

Where would you prefer to be?

Scenario 1: You walk in the door, receive a few superficial hugs and immediately tense up as you spy that big old elephant still sitting on the living room floor big as life, but everyone pretends it’s not there.  The conversation is shallow as you remain in the kitchen because the living room is still filled with things no one wants to talk about.

Scenario 2: You walk in the door, share several long, sincere hugs, walk into the empty living room together, settle into your favorite comfortable spot, and together fill the air with genuine conversation and laughter.

When we feel we are loved and love in return, we are connected. It is a comfortable place to be. We feel at home. The atmosphere is one of belonging. Peace and contentment consume us.

I love feeling that way!

This love is not romantic in nature; it is simply acceptance as is. It is unconditional, non-judgmental, genuine care and concern for another, with no motive to change or manipulate, only to love.

Loving unconditionally is a challenge we all face, and especially difficult when dealing with the "unlovable," yet the Bible is overflowing with verses on love; God’s type of love.

1 John 4:16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like Him.

Jesus loved and reached out in love regardless of the individual’s status or behavior. We love because he first loved us. If anyone says “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen, and He has given us this command: “Whoever loves God must also love his brother.” (John 4:19-21)

In the book of Ephesians Chapters 1, 2 and 3, Paul speaks of who we are as God’s Children. In 4, 5 and 6 he writes on the way we are to conduct ourselves:

In your anger, do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry. (Ephesians 4:26)

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. (Ephesians 4:29)

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. (Ephesians 4:32)

Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. (Ephesians 5:1-2)

Amen! 

Read/Listen to 1 John 4:7-21