Love Comes From God

1 John 4:7 tells us to love one another, for love is from God. If only we could think about others more than ourselves the way God wants us to. But how? It sure doesn't come naturally. And why is that anyway? Why in the world did God make us this way?

April 12

~ Today’s Scripture Art and mini Bible study were designed to help you write God’s Word on your heart as you learn why love is from God. ~

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You’ve heard it before. And there’s a good reason for that. If you’ve read this blog for any length of time, you’ve heard it umpteen times.

And I’m usually such a rule follower, too. {grin} But …

Today I’m breaking my own rule. Well, technically it’s not my rule. I hope it’s everyone’s rule.

Today I am pulling a verse out of context. And further, I am pulling a few words out of a verse!

I can hardly stand myself.

But there’s a reason for my defiance.

I know, I know. Just because there’s a reason doesn’t make it right.

In fact, I’ve had that very thing on my mind this week, so it makes today extra ironic.

It was on my mind because I had asked someone who plays golf regularly the following question: If you hit your golf ball into someone’s yard (accidentally, of course), do you think it is ok to walk into their yard and retrieve it? You see, about a year ago we moved to a house on a golf course and we’ve been shocked by the number of golfers who traipse through our border of plants and flowers to come get their ball. (Turns out, we are not on the best golf course in town – not even the second best. Therefore this course does not have the best golfers. Live and learn. You can tell I don’t know much about golf.)

So how did my friend answer my question? I don’t want to throw him under the bus, but with a shrug and a smile his answer included the price of golf balls these days. So let me get this straight – if the price of golf balls is high enough, then it’s ok to trample someone else’s plants, walk on private property, and retrieve said expensive ball.

I realize that walking in our yard is not that big of a deal. It usually doesn’t hurt anything. But that is exactly why I’m using this particular story.

If it’s not a big deal and you have a good reason – in your own mind – then that makes it ok?

I wanted to judge them. Oh who am I kidding – I did judge them. Father forgive me.

Then the Lord gently convicted.

How many times have I justified little actions because I had a good reason in my mind? It’s no big deal. Never mind that others might not know my reasoning.

My reasoning was valid and that’s all that matters. Right?

2 Corinthians 8:21 (ESV): For we aim at what is honorable not only in the Lord’s sight but also in the sight of man.

We all do it. Please tell me I’m not the only one.

We can see these things clearly in others, but not in ourselves.

Matthew 7:3 (ESV): Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?

That is a very good question. Why?

If only we could just force ourselves to think about others more than ourselves. But how? It sure doesn’t come naturally. And why is that anyway?

Why in the world did God make us this way?

Which brings me to today’s verse.

Today I lettered a portion of 1 John 4:7, but after that diatribe you just read, I probably should add a little context …

1 John 4:7-8: Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.

Verse 8 is a whole other post which we will have to tackle another day. But I’m including it as context so you can see the gravity of the situation. Go ahead. Read it again. Big time gravity.

We can’t smile and shrug and take this lightly.

All throughout the Bible we are told to love one another – not just in this verse.

Leviticus 19:18 (ESV): You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.

John 15:12: “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.

Did you see what I saw? It’s a commandment, not just a nice thought.

Lord, how can You require this of us? Do you realize how hard it is down here?

Oh, right. I guess You do.

How could I forget? What people did to You was much worse than anything people have ever done to me.

Ok. Let’s gather our thoughts. God wants us to love others. We want to please Him, but we’re having a hard time obeying this commandment – because people don’t always make it easy.

Enter today’s verse.

It’s the reason I pulled a few words out of 1 John 4:7 …

Love is from God.

Some versions say: Love comes from God.

It doesn’t come naturally to us, but it does to Him. As verse 8 said, God is love.

Perhaps He made us this way so we would have to get love from Him.

Yet another thing we can’t do without Him.

If you read verse 7 again, it says whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. So if we want to love, we need to be a child of God and we need to know God.

I’m thinking the more we get to know God, the more we’ll love others.

He wants to fill us with His love. He wants us to get it from Him.

Romans 5:5 (ESV): and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

He even made Himself the only store that carries it.

But it’s free!

So I don’t know about you, but I’m going to be making a daily shopping trip! I need it.