Love’s Origin

In John’s letter to his fellow community of believers he writes, “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from GOD. Everyone who loves has been born of GOD and knows GOD,” (I John 4:7).

Is there anything we can do in life that reflects the image of our Heavenly Father more than loving others? In fact, according to this verse, loving others demonstrates that we have been born of GOD and that we know GOD. John is communicating to those who “claim to know GOD” but who do not love others, demonstrates they are not born of GOD neither do they know him. Being born of GOD means that we take on the nature of our Father. When we love others it shows our origin. As we grow in our relationship with GOD our Father, getting to know Him, we learn the challenge of love especially when it involves our enemies or those who have hurt us. Jesus spoke of this in what we call, “The Sermon on the Mount.” “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and unrighteous,” (Matt. 5:44-45). Jesus wanted us to understand that we are never more like our Heavenly Father than when we are loving others, especially our enemies.