TOPIC: LOVE EXPLAINED AND EXEMPLIFIED
TEXT: 1John 4:7-21(NKJV)
4:7. Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.
4:8. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
4:9. 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.
4:10. 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.
4:11. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
4:12. No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us.
4:13. By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.
4:14. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son [as] Savior of the world.
4:15. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.
4:16. And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.
4:17. Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.
4:18. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.
4:19. We love Him because He first loved us.
4:20. If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?
4:21. And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God [must] love his brother also.
STUDY:
The most profound definition of love is found here. It says GOD IS LOVE. There are many virtues we talk about but none equals God, save love. No wonder Paul, in writing to the Galatians, says the fruit of the Spirit is love. Therefore, no man can be termed godly or spiritual who does not possess love. John said the gift of God’s only begotten Son, Jesus, as an appeasement, was provoked by the love that God has for us. The example here is that God gave his best to secure our redemption. It is expected that we give our best to ensure that everyone around us is reconciled to his/her Maker. While it is lawful to give gifts to men and meet their material needs; we must say that the authenticity and power of our love is demonstrated in our investments to have others saved from darkness to light.
PRAYER:
Lord, refine me by your love and cause me to be defined by it, Amen!
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