1 John 4

Scripture

1 John 4:10
This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us 

1 John 4:19
We love because he first loved us.

Observation

In the fourth chapter of John’s first epistle, the apostle cautions his readers to test the authenticity of the spirit behind any teaching or prophecy; with a confession of the incarnation of Jesus as God in the flesh being the litmus test of divine origins (v.15). He warns that any doctrine that falls short of this acknowledgement is born of the spirit of Antichrist, but then encourages believers with the truth that our victory over this diabolical spirit is guaranteed through the Spirit of God resonant within each believer. Next, John exalts the perfect, sacrificial love of God and holds it aloft as the standard against which believers are to measure the quality of love that we offer others. To say that we love God while not loving our brothers is to not have the love of God in us.

Understanding

In these two verses, I am reminded of the divine origins of anything good, worthy, redemptive or glorifying to God that exists in my life. I wanted nothing to do with God when He sought me out and drew me to Him with His overwhelming and transforming love. In fact, I was spiritually dead when He found me and made me alive to His grace and mercy. There was nothing but sin, rebellion and corruption in my heart when He lavished His love on me. God loved me the most when I was the most unlovable. This truth, above any other, can be the only thing about which I could “boast” concerning why God chose to love me - I was chosen because I was so filthy, debauched and degenerate as to never, ever be able to claim that I was worthy of His love for me. Quite the contrary, I could have been the poster boy for one deserving of the full measure of God’s wrath against rebels and sinners - of which I was (am) the worst. And not just way back then, but now and every moment of every day of my life, God is the source and wellspring of all in my life that can be called good or of any worth. I cannot glorify God but through the (rare) times that I crucify my “self” and get out of the way long enough for the love and life of God, in the person of the indwelling Holy Spirit, to shine forth.   

Life Application

Lord, lead me daily, moment by moment to live out the truth of your word…

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)

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-Gary Parker