“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” – 1 John 4:7-8

He who does not love, does not know God, for God is love. Just stop and deconstruct that sentence for a few minutes.

When you lack compassion for that homeless man. When you talk dirty about your neighbor. When you do a shady business deal.

If you’re in a position of power, it’s allowing injustices on innocent people or taking advantage of your status to take from others.

Loving your family and friends doesn’t count. Love your enemies, we’re told. Bless those who curse you. Return evil with good.

Believers, in his writings, John tells us again and again that God is love, that love is the most important virtue, the most important power we have.

Not condemnation, not judgement, not self-righteousness or pride or position. LOVE is the greatest of these.

I was pondering as I read, thinking, “John sure talks about love a lot. I like him.” Then the thought occurred to me: John was “the disciple that Jesus loved.” He was at Jesus’s side through His ministry and he saw his miracles first hand. If there is anyone who can tell us from an up-close perspective exactly what Jesus was about, it’s John.

This is what he learned at the feet of our Lord, and he uses several books of the Bible to try to hammer it home that Love is what defines us before God, yet so many churches are still focused on judgment and hellfire. The covenant of the New Testament is a covenant of love. Church, we should quit focusing on the numbers in the pews or the plates and start worrying about the quantities of love we’re sharing with those around us. This is the greatest commandment.

Let us love one another, for love is of God, and everyone who loves is born of God.

Love is an action. It’s an intent and a choice and finally a lifestyle. If we are born of God, let us love. ❤️