Meditation
LOVE IS OF GOD
Text: 1 John 4
21 April 2024
THE CALL TO PRACTISE LOVE
The Apostle John, the author of the Gospel that bore his name called himself, “one of the disciples whom Jesus loved” (John 13:23). He did not say that he was the only one loved. He was just very conscious that he was dearly loved by the Lord Jesus.
In a general epistle that he wrote, the focus was on the theme of “God’s love.”
7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.
8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.
10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 1 John 4:7-11
- The Source of Love
a) This is to be traced to God Himself
b) The manifestation of God’s love
i) In that God sent His only begotten Son
ii) So that we may live through faith in the Lord Jesus
iii) The Lord Jesus is the One who is the propitiation for our sins
iv) Without His death for us, our sins cannot be atoned for
- If there is no love
a) It proves that we do not know God
b) Words of love prove nothing much
APPROPRIATE RESPONSE
If indeed we say we know God, then love must be seen in our life. Our relationship with each other would feature the reality of God’s love for us! Let us seek to fulfil the apostolic admonition to love one another!