The Outflow!

The Outflow!

We love him, because he first loved us.

1 John 4:19 KJV

We love, because He first loved us.

1 John 4:19 AMP

Context and Charge:

The entire chapter from where today's extract is taken speaks on love from the perspective of God. The person who also was inspired to write these words is known as John the beloved. He must have had some unique personal experiences for him to be so called, and for him to write this way. It has to be again underlined how important it is to have your own unique encounter with God. If I have it, and learn the lessons ìt intends, that encounter will never leave me the same way. Today's verse is on love, God's style, not the version the world celebrates, which is just glorifying sin. Let it be clear from the outset that love cannot be defined outside of the One who embodies it. Let no one deceive me into settling for a definition or experience that does not include an encounter with the One who is called love.

I am able to show a particular virtue because its seed has been birthed in me. In physical terms, you cannot reap where you did not sow anything, and you cannot place a demand on resources that you have not spent time building up. However, God's dealings with man tell a powerful story: at the time God showed me love, he had no guarantee that I would accept and respond to his love. He knew that some people would reject his love to the end of their lives, and that some would even mock this love. But He also knew that some would embrace his love and become visible and audible expressions of this love. He loved me, not first because I would accept Him, but because love is his nature. As amazing as this sounds, in it is a word of caution too: this love will demand  a reaction or response from me.

Conviction and Conclusion:

If I have received love, I must give it out. This love is not to be kept personal only, but to be freely shared with other people. It is not to be dispensed as a favour, where I show love because I want something in return. I did not and could have not paid any price for the love I received from God, and it is expected that I will show the same love to other people, with no hypocrisy or price demanded. Freely was I given and it is expected that I will also give freely. I can love because the perfect God accepted me as I was then, showed me, an imperfect man, how to be perfect before Him. I love, because now I know what love means. Jesus has done all He needs to do; the response is left for me. I do not have any valid excuse not to love; I have the perfect example to emulate. God's time of favour is here.