Our scripture this morning is 1 John 4:7-10.
Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.
If you do a search of the Bible for how often the term “love” occurs, you may be overwhelmed by the results. The Bible is the story of our relationship with God, the very connection that allows us to exist. We were created through His love and “the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end;” (Lamentations 3:22).
Here John echoes the commandment that Jesus gave us to love one another (John 13:34). In Matthew 22:37-39 we are taught to love God and our neighbor as ourselves. Jesus came to show us what a life of love can be, and to help us be more loving in all we do.
This passage emphasizes that it is only through God’s love and Christ’s sacrifice that we can be saved. In John 14:6 we read “no one comes to the Father except through me”. No human action can accomplish this; accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior is the only way to eternal life.
Gracious God, in love You created us and in love You sent Your son to save us. Bless us to be the bearers of Your love to all the world. Amen.
