Day 17
1John 4:7-12
“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.”
The word love is one of the most overused, and misunderstood words in the English language. We think we love some type of food, musical group, movie…the list is endless. Yet, when it comes to the relationships of a Jesus follower, we see some high standards for Christian love. In 1John 4:7 says that love is from God. And, if you do not love, then you do not know God (vv 8)! That is much different than the love that most of us were taught. Love is not a flippant answer to how we feel about people. It is love that brought Jesus to the cross. It is love that allows us to know God. It is love that fuels our every action. Why? Because it is love that fueled Jesus!
In light of this understanding of love, how should we act toward our fellow Jesus followers?
(By James Campa of Aspire Church)