Friday 8th September 2023

1 John 4:7-12

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. Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us, and his love is perfected in us. 

Reflection

Love is one of the essences of a true Christian life, and it comes as a reminder that God allows humanity to see love through our actions and deeds. God who loved us even before we loved him wants us to have a thorough complete experience of walking in God’s love. And that can be proven by loving God, and others just as ourselves. Remember, God is in us and we reflect that presence in our good deeds of sharing this love. Helping others in need may be one good example, but that should not be taken as holding the key to controlling them.

The text also reminds us that God’s love is not just yet complete without our love for one another. Because no one has seen God at any time, there is the assurance that if we love one another, God dwells in the midst of that communion and that makes love complete. Hatred, greed, enmity, jealousy etc disallow the bond of love to get strong, rather it curbs their growth and ours as well. God’s love is manifest in and through creation, humanity made complete in the atoning sacrifice of his Son Jesus Christ.  In this love, we are convicted of our call to complete God’s circle of love by loving all.

Prayer

God, we thank you for your Son, Jesus Christ. You have loved us even before we loved you. Give us the wisdom to let this circle of love grow bigger and stronger by loving and caring for others, and widening our embrace to all creation making your love complete. Amen