Such a simple statement, yet filled with depth and wisdom. Where does love come from? It is an emotion, a very complex emotion, that I propose is inherent at birth. But can someone grow to love another? John's words here are reflective of the Christian claim to love God. This verse, in context, is surrounded by questions posed by John around our ability to love God if we cannot love those around us.
As parent's we teach our children that they shouldn't say, "I hate her (him)." because hate is such a strong passionate negative verb. The act of hating builds a wall of anger in the personality of the owner. This wall of emotion prevents us from fully experiencing the joy and love of the Lord. For to fully appreciate His love and reciprocate in like manner, we must be able to love other's first.
God's love is defined by the highest standard imagineable. Completely unconditional in character. There is nothing, absolutely nothing that can separate you from His love. On the other hand, we struggle daily with the conditions that are wrapped around relationships, emotions and actions of those we say we love. It is impossible for us to fully comprehend the depth of the word unconditional. The closest thing possible to understanding God's love for us is the love of a parent to their children.
A miracle of God happens on the day a baby is born into a family. As a father of five I can affirm that nothing measures up to the first time I held my child in the hospital room. The unbelievable emotions cannot be captured in words. Looking into the eyes of your child, you discover the dependency that exists between a parent and the child. Both are dependent upon the other for a love that will endure all things that may come in life. Unknowingly, unable to see into the future, at that very moment, a father commits to his child to always be there for them, to always love them no matter what, to protect them, to raise them and teach them with integrity and moral values. I believe a baby, less than an hour old, is able to form a trust with their mother and father that is built on the foundation of this love. Otherwise how is it that a baby will find comfort in their arms and none other from the moment it is born. This love will draw and hold them together for their entire life.
If you are a parent and have experienced this depth of love at that birth of your child, you know that there is no stronger love. The child that came from your creation, is bound by the blood that runs through their veins and the fills their heart, mind and soul. This mind that contains the capability to experience the emotion of love equally with their parent. This love between a child and their parent is the closest thing we have to compare to the love God has for us. Even then, it falls well short of His love. For you see, as much as we try to live our lives with an unconditional love for our children, the possibility is there for that emotion to be altered. There are limitations to the love, whether we would acknowledge them or not, that exist between one human and another.
So walk with your head held high today, knowing that God cannot love you any more or any less than you He does at this very moment. His love is the only love that is completely unconditional and consistent without rules. Wrapping your head around this concept should lift you to an all new high, that the creator of the universe loves you. Wow.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father,Thank You for loving us, despite our unrighteousness and sinful nature. Your word tells us that You are love, and that we are to love one another in the manner that You first loved us. Help us Lord to put aside our differences, prejudices and bias to just love each other. Today I lift my prayers to Your for strength and courage in this area of my life, and ask that Your love is made evident to all through me. In Your name we pray – Amen
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