Our scripture this morning is 1 John 4:7-11.
“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.”
The whole of scripture is about God’s love for us and how we should love Him in return. The only reason we exist at all is because He loves us, and the only way to be saved is to accept His love and share it with the world. He loves us so much that He became one of us to better teach us His ways.
John writes about God’s love for us in his Gospel and his three letters. Even his Revelation, which can be a little frightening and confusing, is about God’s love for us. God has promised us eternal life if we connect to Him and obey His commandments.
The “obey” part of the covenant is where we fall into trouble. Thankfully, the God of love offers us forgiveness when we recognize our mistakes and return to Him. No matter what we have done, God wants to redeem us from our sins that we may have new life in Him.
Loving Lord, we are grateful for Your love and forgiveness. Help us to follow the example Jesus gave us, loving You and one another. Amen.