Devotion: 1 John 4:8

1 John 4:8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

As we near the end of the month it seems our time left with the Greek form agape is not yet concluded. Today we find it to be the focus once again, as John teaches us more about what or rather, WHO, love is.

Whoever does not love is a strange phrase to consider, upon glance. Whoever does not love doesn’t seem possible, if you think about it. We all love. We all have some form of love that we experience, that we exhibit, that we extend. Though I do know some who are quite narcissistic – yet they still do love, just themselves more than others.

But therein lies the key. Loving OTHERS. Yes, we all love, to one extent or another. But if we do not love as God loves, we do not know God. Going back to the form of love that we have in this verse, we see it is once more agape, unconditional, compassionate, love for others. It is the love of God, which cannot be produced on our own and simply FELT (like in phileo, an emotional brotherly love).

And those who do not love with a Godly loved don’t show evidence that they have been born-again and are believers. They don’t know God because God IS love. If we do not love as He loves, can the love of God really be in us? Do we really know what the love of God is if we don’t seek Him and experience it ourselves?

The love we experience from God is abundant and overflowing. It is so abundant and great that we should immediately want others to experience it as well. It should flow into us, over us, and out to others because His love is that amazing and all consuming. If we know God and have experienced His love, we should want others to experience it as well because there is nothing like it.

We have been blessed with a gift beyond measure. He loved us so much He gave His life for us. His love is so great for us that He gave everything to be with us forever. That is love. True love.

Prayer: Lord, Thank You for showering us with an indescribable, immeasurable love. Let me love others with the love You have given me. Amen

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