“This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”
1 John 4:10

Wednesday, July 1, 2009
1 John 4:19-21
Loving our Brothers
Interestingly, John draws a direct correlation between our love for God and our love for other people. Our ability and motivation for loving others is rooted in the fact that God has first loved us. Furthermore, it is also such a natural outflow of our love relationship with God that if we do not love our brothers (and sisters), it is impossible to claim that we truly love God. This reality strongly refutes the philosophy of the person who thinks it makes us holy if we withdraw from people altogether in order to “develop” our relationship with God. Of course it is easier to be positive, enjoy life, and act godly if there are no people around to test our patience, forgiveness, and love. There are certainly times for withdrawal in order to focus on God and our relationship to him, but these should always be part of a rhythm of engagement and withdrawal. In fact, love for other people is so integral and necessary to our relationship with God that the primary way we serve God, practically speaking, is through serving other people in one way or another. Remember that love is not simply an emotion, but involves decision and action. Who is it that you need to find a way to love more deeply, love in more practical ways, or love at all?

Prayer Starter:
Lord, help me to truly express my love for you by really loving other people. Soften my heart that I may love those it is not easy to love – I know that truly loving you is impossible without growing in my ability to love others.