Our scripture this morning is 1 John 4:7-11.
Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love. God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other.
The commandment to “love one another” is stated a number of times in various forms throughout the New Testament. Perhaps the most important is when Jesus combines love for each other as part of loving God in His explanation of the greatest commandment (Matt. 22:39). We are taught that we can’t say we love God if we don’t show that love for one another as well.
John writes that God shows how much He loves us “by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through Him” (v. 9). We ourselves are evidence of this love, created in God’s image to be in relationship with Him. We can best show our love in return by how we love and care for all His children here on earth.
John says simply in verse 8 of this passage that “God is love”. Our very existence and everything around us testify to the love of our Creator. It is up to us to live in that love and share it with everyone.
Heavenly Father, we are humbled to be included as part of Your plan for all things. Help us to be the loving people You created us to be, connected to You and each other. Amen.