“Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.” (1 John 4:7)
Growth takes time. We are born in an instant; we mature slowly through the years. We celebrate the day of our birth; it was a one-time event that made growth possible. No life, no growth.
Likewise, we are born-again in a moment. We passed from death to life. The chief sign of that event is the newfound love we have toward God and His children. “We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren …” (1 John 3:14) But now this love must grow and ripen in the most pure and fervent way. “Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.” (1 Peter 1:22,23)
We cannot control how we are loved; but we can choose to love everyone always.
We cannot control how we are loved; but we can choose to love everyone always. Human love runs out when it is unloved. It loves when it is loved. God cannot cease loving because He cannot stop being who He is. “… God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.” (1 John 4:16) Our love is made perfect as we are “as He is” in this imperfect world. Because He dwells within us we can be just like Him; we can love others with a love greater than our own.
As we go though life, the choice we face as believers is simple: will we love those around us with the infinite love of God; or will we try and love them with our own finite love? Will we love them before they love us? Will we love them more than they love us? Will we love them with a love that never fails? Will our love for them grow greater even as their love for us grows less? “And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.” (2 Cor. 12:15)
Being loved by others is indeed a wonderful thing; but we cannot count on it happening. God’s love for us is constant though, and should never be in doubt. The cross has forever proved it. “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” (1 John 4:10)
Our joy will be full as we bask in being God’s beloved and as we love others with the love we have received from Him.
We mourn when we don’t feel loved enough by the important people in our life. But our joy cannot depend on being loved by any human being. Our joy will be full as we bask in being God’s beloved and as we love others with the love we have received from Him. “These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.” (John 15:11,12)
If you are born of God, He is in you so you can love your spouse, your children, your brothers, your neighbors, your enemies, all with His love. Make that choice today so you might grow into the person you were born-again to be.