1 John 4:7


Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God ~ 1 John 4:7

Hatred, anger, envy, cruelty, all have their source elsewhere, for these feelings do not come from God. He does not approve of these feelings, nor does He commend them in us, and He certainly does not originate them. If you are dealing with these emotions, they are not godlike. The love John is talking about is agape love, the love one has for a brother or sister. It is the love of charity. True love comes from God, for God is love to its utmost. It is the foundation of our Christian faith, and it is the foundation of the world. God loved us so much He sent His Son to die on a cross for our sin, to take our place of punishment. If God loved us as much as that, we ought to love others with that same love. John knew our human heart though, which is why this has been written. He knew we were slow at times to love as God loves. He knew that our hearts can and will betray us, that our emotions can take control, that we can hold on to those vices I first mentioned today: anger, hatred, envy, and cruelty. We cannot always control these issues of the heart if we do not speak openly with others in love. Matthew 18:15 tells us that if your brother or sister sins against you, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. That is what love is. Love does not cower behind vices, for only the love of God can and will overcome what the enemy puts into our heart. God’s love is born of His Spirit, begotten of God, and those who love God and their neighbour are born of God.

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