1 John 4:8

7 July 10

1 John 4:8
He who doesn't love, doesn't know not God; for God is love.

Three Points

1. We all need love.

Some animals need group/pack acceptance. People need love. We need tenderness, compassion, gentleness, time, and a feeling of being special, having more attention and priority than others. Love is a choice. There may be an emotional part, but it is not always there. Love is more about giving then getting. God is the ultimate example. John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.


2. Where will we get love?

All need love. In desperation they often seek it in wrong places and wrong people. Many manipulators will lie to get what they want. For the first step we need to repent (turn from our sins) and trust in Jesus Christ alone. Then we are reconciled to God and will have God's love and care instead of wrath. It doesn't mean everything will be smooth and easy, for often it means rejection and troubles. If people showed love like God does, the world would be better, but people will not because we are born narcissists.

3. God is love.

Seeing the many disasters and wars in the world, most have a hard time believing this. The disasters and wars are from people seeking their own, rather than God's will. James 4:1-3 Where do wars and fightings among you come from? Do not they come from your pleasures that war in your members? You lust, and do not have. You kill, covet, and cannot obtain. You fight and make war. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask, and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it for your pleasures.