💜 Love at the Center: Understanding 1 John 4:7–10
“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten 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 propitiation for our sins.” — 1 John 4:7–10
1. The Command: Love One Another
John begins with a tender word—Beloved—before calling us to love one another. This is more than a suggestion; it’s the defining trait of Christian life. Love here isn’t reduced to warm feelings or fleeting affection—it’s active, deliberate, and self-giving. It’s the choice to seek another’s good even when it costs us something.
2. The Source: Love Comes from God
John doesn’t say love merely reflects God; he says love is from God. This means:
- God is the origin of love. We can’t manufacture it on our own.
- Genuine love is evidence of spiritual birth and a true relationship with God.
- Where love is absent, intimacy with God is also absent.
When we love, we are participating in the very nature of God.
3. The Definition: God Is Love
“God is love” is one of the shortest yet deepest theological statements in Scripture. It doesn’t mean God is only love—He is also holy, just, and wise—but love is at the core of His being. Everything He does is an expression of love, even His discipline and correction.
4. The Proof: Love Manifested in Jesus
John points to the ultimate demonstration: God sent His only Son into the world so that we could live. This is not love in theory; it’s love in flesh and blood, in nail-pierced hands and a crown of thorns. Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection are God’s visible “I love you” to humanity.
5. The Priority: God Loved First
Love didn’t begin with us reaching toward God. It began with God reaching toward us. Before we could ever desire Him, He already desired us. Before we could ever respond in faith, He had already given the greatest gift—His Son—as the atoning sacrifice for our sins.
6. The Challenge for Us Today
In a world quick to divide, label, and dismiss, 1 John 4:7–10 calls us to live differently. To forgive even when wronged. To show kindness when ignored. To act with generosity when it’s inconvenient. This kind of love doesn’t come naturally—it flows from time spent with God, being transformed by His Spirit.
🕊 Closing Thought:
When we love as God loves, we are not just obeying a command—we are revealing God’s heart to the world. Our love becomes the evidence of His presence in us. The question for each of us is: If love is the proof, can others see God in me?
The Curious Pilgrims 