“THE ORIGINATOR OF LOVE”

19 “We love because he first loved us.”

1 John 4:19

Love is more than just a sea of emotions; it’s an experience that began with God.

Yesterday, we learned that since God doesn’t want us to live in fear and doubt, He gives us assurance of salvation.

The whole passage talks about loving fellow believers. In that regard, John presents the most important truth: Christian love is a byproduct of God’s love. It is not an instinctive emotion experienced by an unbelieving person. Rather, it is a kind of love that comes from the Father and manifests through the Lord Jesus. Now, this love identifies God’s people, also known as the church.

Christians’ ability to love is rooted in God’s perfect love for them. To begin with, we do not have a selfless, sacrificial love for others. While parents may have this disposition toward their children, people don’t naturally love others in the same way.

But God changes the picture completely. Because of the love He demonstrated by sending His Son to save us, we now have a pattern to follow. The very ones who benefitted from that love were His enemies, in the first place.

Likewise, we are now able to love others, especially those in the family of faith, because of the love we receive from God. Through us, God reveals His love for His own as well as those who are in the world.

How do you demonstrate selfless love to fellow Christians and unbelievers alike?

Pursue the Savior today!