A Passage of Love (1John 4:7-21) 061107
This is a love passage. By this I mean two things: a passage in the Bible that speaks about the love of God and a passage (way) that is full of love as we journey through it. So much have been written about the topic of love and there are also other passages in the Bible (like 1 Corinthians 13:4-8) that teaches about what is love.
Love cannot be enjoyed alone. The first thing in this passage tells us to love one another, for love is from God (v7) and God is a Three-in-One God. And we, the believers, are identified with God through love (v8). God demonstrated love by sending His Son to the world for the propitiation for our sins (v9-10). This is perfect love and we ought to one another as a proof that God’s perfect love abides in us (v11-12). We can love because the work of the Spirit in us to be the testimony of love (v13-15). God is love and as we abide in Him and He in us, our love is perfected (v16-17). Perfect love casts out fears (v18). We can love not because we have the ability, it is because God first loved us (v19). Hence, love has to be evident by our action towards our brothers and sisters in Christ (v20-21).
Love is not about one person enjoying the presence of God in solitude. There is room for that, but that is not love. Love is not about two persons engross in their complete devotion to one another and ignore or neglect all other people around them. Surely there is a place for such devotion and love, but that is not perfect love. Love is about being vulnerable to hurts and pains. That is why Apostle John reminded His readers that perfect love casts out fears. The fear of being misunderstood. The fear of being disappointed. The fear of betrayal. The fear of hurting one another. The fear of rejection. Do you have any of these fears?
As we journeyed through the passage of love, it is a narrow way, and we have to be very close to one another. When we get very close to one another, we become very vulnerable to one another too. And we will hurt one another. But love needs us to overcome such hurts and pains, and keep our eyes on the end of the passage: Jesus Christ and His Cross.
I know the passage of love is a long and tough way to walk in, but the good news is that we do not need to walk alone. Though there will be hurts and pains as we even walk together, do not fear, let the love which is in us to cast out these fears. As we continually casting out our fears with the love in us, this love will be perfected in us too. Therefore, stay close to one another, commit to stick together and allow each other to show love to one another.
Let us walk in this passage of love together. Are you coming along with me?
HHS…
Abel…
