Let Us Love

⁷ Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. ⁸ Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. ⁹ This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. ¹⁰ This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. ¹¹ Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.   - 1 John 4:7-11

The church father, Jerome, recounts that when the Apostle John was in his extreme old age, he was so weak that he had to be carried into the church meetings. At the end of the meeting he would be helped to his feet to give a word of exhortation to the church. And each time, he would give this exhortation, “Little children, let us love one another.” The people began to grow weary of the same words every time, so they finally asked him why he always said the same thing over and over. He replied, “Because it is the Lord’s commandment, and if this only is done, it is enough” (cited by John Stott, The Epistles of John [Eerdmans], p. 49).

When you hear the word 'love,' what comes to your mind? Is it your favorite love song or movie? We hear a lot about love in the church too. But what does that mean to us, individually and as a faith community? Here, in this passage, the Apostle John defines love as the self-sacrificing, caring commitment in seeking the highest good of the loved one. And this love is exemplified through the work of Jesus Christ on the cross.

Why is this possible? Because, as John stated, God is love. It is inevitable that God loves his creation and desires to bring restoration and reconciliation back to Him. He knows that ultimate and highest good for humans is a relationship with Him. Knowing this, what about us? John argues that since we are born of God and claim to have a relationship with Him, we must love as God loves. It becomes inevitable that we show the same self-sacrificing and caring commitment to those around us. The implication is that the life of God imparted to us in the new birth manifests itself in love for others. If we are children of the One whose very nature is love, then we will be like our Father.

At the same time, even thought love is inevitable for God, it is not automatic. God loves the sinner but hates the sins. His love for us is boundless but abhors our sins. He reconciles this by sending Jesus Christ to die on the cross as the atoning sacrifice for our sins. We know of God's love not because He claims an intense emotional fondness towards us, but because of what he did. In the same way, John commands us to love one another. He knows that even though love is inevitable for the believer, it is not automatic. It requires the active participation of the believer. It is not automatic or effortless! There is always room for growth in love.

Reflecting on this, how has our lives demonstrated this love? We serve in this ministry and get involved with that cause and claim that we love God. But that's not what God is looking for. He's looking at our personal relationships with those He placed in our lives. When was the last time we put other's needs before our's? When was the last time that our commitment to others cost us something?

I want to encourage us to meditate on this for our lives. We must realize that love comes from God. The source of our love comes from experiencing His love in our lives. As we grow in our relationship with God, love becomes inevitable within our lives. At the same time, we know that showing love is not automatic. It requires effort. It requires sacrifice. It requires us to step away from our comforts and into an uncomfortable situation. But it is only within that space, do we truly experience the full and completeness of God's love.

The Source of Forgiveness

But Joseph said to them, "Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.  - Genesis 50:19-20 

It doesn't matter where you live, what you do, who you surround yourself with, people will disappoint you. Not only that, they might even hurt you with their words and actions, intentionally or unintentionally. We've all experienced this at one time or another in our lives, and though we can't control other people's actions or words, we can control how we respond. So how do we respond?

CS Lewis says "Every one says forgiveness is a lovely idea, until they have something to forgive." Indeed, it is a lovely yet difficult concept when it has to be applied in our personal lives. Yet, it is only through forgiveness that we break the bondage of bitterness, hatred, resentment, and anger. It is only through forgiveness, do we find the freedom to enter into a relationship with others.

Yet, what is the source of our forgiveness? Is it because we are so good, generous, and abounding in love? We may think and pray that God gives us a larger heart that will allow us to forgive, however, the true source of lasting and unconditional forgiveness comes from recognizing how big God's love is for our lives, and not how much we can love. It is recognizing the times that we have failed and sinned against God, yet He still forgives us. It is seeing that when we don't deserve the good things in life, He gives it to us anyways.

I believe that this is the source that Joseph draws upon to be able to truly forgive his brothers. Despite the evils of what Joseph's brothers had done toward him, he reflects upon what God has done in his life. Joseph recognizes that God is the one ultimately in control.  His brothers did not recognize this when they sold him into slavery. If Joseph refused to forgive his brothers, he would also fall into the same thinking as his brothers. Instead, he chose to forgive.

Forgiving others for when they have wronged you requires much courage. It takes courage to see that God is greater than you and them. It takes courage to give up control of the situation and to leave it in God's hands instead of holding on to it. So when we are at these crossroads, pray that God opens our eyes to the greatness of His love for our lives, and that by seeing it, we will have the courage to forgive.

Something to think about:

1. What is your initial reaction to the concept of forgiveness? Do you react in denial, anger, self-righteousness, or judgment? Do you perhaps feel hostile toward the whole idea of forgiveness as a necessity? 

2. Is it possible to forgive someone fully if they have not asked for it?  Does this deal with the sin/wrong in a just way?  Does it show real love to ignore the sin?  Does it minimize and even condone the sin if it is not dealt with?   In what circumstances is it possible to forgive someone without their confession and repentance?