We Love Because He First Loved Us

Are you frustrated when someone cuts you off in traffic, jumps in front of you in the checkout line, or is just plain rude?

Dr. Jonathan M. Bundon Worship Pastor First Baptist Church

To be sure, we have all been there, and it seems bad manners and apathy abound.

Today it feels like there is less love and more hate in the world than ever before. The downright hostility toward others can be seen in news headlines worldwide. It is incredibly tempting to slip into this culture of uncaring and hatred. What are we to do? As Christians, we can show the love of Jesus to others and fight against culture. Fighting the good fight might seem overwhelming or a hopeless quest, but I bear witness to this fact, people look at you differently, and your efforts make a difference. A simple ges- ture such as giving up a parking space, returning a cart, or offering up a kind word to the cashier can make people look at you differently.

Moreover, a Gospel conversation with someone can make a significant impact. But know this, we cannot and will not succeed in our strength. John, in his first letter, emphasizes to his readers to fight sin and love others with the love that God has given to us.

In 1 John 4:7-11 he writes to believers, “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

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. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.”

What an incredible truth! We have an opportunity to show God’s love to others. Yes, this world can be cruel, yet the love of Christ, which saved us, can be seen in us to give light to others. We are called and compelled to love. What is our motivator? John provides us with the answer in vs. 19-21, “We love because he first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.”

This week, let us walk God’s Spirit of love and love one another as Jesus loves you.