Skip to main content

1 John 4:7: Beloved, Let Us Love One Another


1 John 4:7
[7] Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. (ESV)

Much has been said about love throughout the centuries of time. Love is powerful. Those who claim to know God and those who do not claim to know God each have an understanding of love. The great Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. had this to say about love:

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."
- Martin Luther King, Jr.

While many can speak about love it is best to go directly to the source.  Where does love come from? The Apostle John tells us right in this verse that love is from God. It is important for us to realize that love is not from our sinful selves. Love is from God.  The reason that the world fails so much at love is that they do not recognize the source of love.  If you want to love properly you must receive love from the source of love; God.

We are all loved.  I appreciate how John uses the word "beloved," when he speaks to his audience. The ones he writes to are loved. Loved by whom? God! Those who belong to God are first of all loved by God. We love because he first loved us.  That is the order of things. I know that at many times we feel unloved, but the Scriptures here remind us, we are loved.  In fact, throughout the day consider using the word "beloved" to describe yourself.

So, God is the source of love.  He loves us. What should our response be? I'm glad you asked! "Let us love one another." God's love compels us to love others. And this love that we are to offer is not an optional thing. The Apostle John says here that it is this love for one another that is the evidence that were are born of God and know God.

Beloved. That's you! God loves you.  Love him back. And then love those around you. It's really that simple. Walk in his love today.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Romans 8:18: For I Consider That The Sufferings Of This Present Time Are Not Worth Comparing

Romans 8:18 [18] For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. (ESV) Perspective. What an important word. Let's be honest. We do not like the idea of suffering. We will do almost anything to avoid any kind of suffering. Some churches have gone so far as to preach against the idea of suffering, declaring it to not be a part of the true believer's life. Paul is not shy about the topic. Paul uses the sufferings of this present time as a means to consider the greater glory that awaits us. Perspective. Paul is not in any way attempting to diminish our suffering. A view toward eternity puts our suffering in a proper understanding. Yes, our suffering is terrible. In the grand scheme of eternity it is not even worth comparison. Maybe you are thinking that Paul does not know what he is talking about when it comes to suffering. In 2 Corinthians 11 Paul describes countless beatings, often near death,

Romans 11:24: For If You Were Cut From What Is By Nature A Wild Olive Tree, And Grafted, Contrary To Nature, Into A Cultivated Olive Tree . . .

Romans 11:24 [24] For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree. (ESV) We continue looking at the illustration of an olive tree. The root of the tree is the covenant relationship relationship of God with Abraham. Abraham's faith is what this spiritual tree is built on. The first branches would have been the faithful people of Israel, who like Abraham, placed their faith in God. They believed God, just like Abraham, and it was credited to them as righteousness. There were branches of the people of Israel who never placed their faith in God. Because these branches were not true followers of God they were broken off of the tree. Faith in God was the essential element that made the branches true branches of this spiritual tree. Some branches remained. Others, the faithless unbelievers, were removed. After Jesu

Romans 15:20-21: And Thus I Make It My Ambition To Preach The Gospel, Not Where Christ Has Already Been Named

Romans 15:20–21 [20] and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else's foundation, [21] but as it is written, “Those who have never been told of him will see, and those who have never heard will understand.” (ESV) We need to be reminded continually that the message of the Gospel is intended to move all across the world. Jesus said that his followers were to preach the Gospel, starting in Jerusalem, and continue preaching the Gospel to the whole world. Christians have not always been good at delivering the Gospel message as far and as often as they should. In the first century church it took intense persecution to motivate the disciples in Jerusalem to bring the Gospel to Judea and Samaria. Once the disciples fled to new regions they shared the Gospel wherever they went. Would the disciples have preached the Gospel without the persecution? We may never know. Some probably would have stayed in their co