April 23, 2013

1 John 4:7-12 ⁷ Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. ⁸ Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. ⁹ This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. ¹⁰ This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. ¹¹ Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 

 Verses 7 and 8 will require a bit more study on my part before I fully grasp all the implications here, but John is pretty clear in verse 11- "since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another."  No grey area there.  We are loved, therefore we need to love.

The logical question that flows from that is, "What does that love look like in 2013?"  I almost hate to go to
1 Corinthians 13 because of its overuse in marriage ceremonies, but the virtues of love outlined in the chapter from 1 Corinthians are applicable for all situations.

Love is patient and kind.  It is not envious, boastful, proud, self-seeking or easily angered.  It does not dishonor others, keep a record of wrong or delight in evil.  Love protects, trusts, hopes, peseveres and rejoices in truth.

My lack of full theological understanding of verses 7 and 8 do not negate my mandate to live out verse 11 and love others.