1 John 4:7-10

“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.  He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.  In this, the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.  In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”

In this passage from John’s first letter, we hear what is probably the greatest single statement about God in the Bible: GOD IS LOVE.  The greatest expression of God’s love was his sending of his Son into the world so that we might live through Him.  GOD IS LOVE tells us what God does.  Love is an activity, not a quality.  Saying that God is Love suggests an active, engaging God, someone who wants to be in a relationship with us; not a remote, “hands-off”, intellectual concept.  God creates lovingly, God saves lovingly, God judges lovingly.  Are there ways in my life that I can engage with God more openly?  more actively?  move lovingly?

Love can be expressed in many ways.  Love is made real in what we say, in what we do, and how we treat other people.  Think of the people we have met recently or those we may meet today.  Think of the lives they lead, their work, their worries, their passions, their loves.  God is present here: the God who is love.  Present, living, dwelling in every one of these people, and in you.  How might God’s love be revealed through them? Through me?

Taken from Pray as You Go Application

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