We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.
1 John 4:19 -21
These are some of my favorite verses in the New Testament. So simple and direct! I’ve used verse 19, “We love because [Jesus] first loved us” for years to answer the question about 'why missions?' or 'why outreach?' These verses leave no room for excuses – there is no justification if we claim to follow Christ, yet harbor hate or prejudice against another person. If we do, then we do not love God. The beauty and clarity of these words remind of me of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s words: “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” Only Love.
We love because we were loved first - the Bible tells us so. The Bible is often called God’s “love letter” to us, which may seem a bit hokey, but if you take a step back, it really is filled with holy scripture that speaks of God’s love for us. The prophet Zephaniah tells us that the LORD is with us. He is our Mighty Warrior and Savior, that He delights in us and REJOICES over us with singing! (Zeph. 3:17) This is one of my favorite images of God – we bring Him joy, so much so that He sings over us!
The psalmist also reminds us that God delights in us (Ps. 149). It’s quite humbling to think that the God of the universe looks at us with love, a love that is everlasting and unfailing (Jeremiah 31). Above all, His love for us is sacrificial. He showed us that in the death and resurrection of Jesus, His Son, and our Savior. His sacrifice of love is the only way we can be reconciled back to the Father. (John 3:16)
As Christians or little Christs, how then must we live in the face of such divine love? The verses above tell us that loving God and loving our neighbor are two sides of the same coin. They cannot be separated. In fact, when Jesus was asked to name the greatest of all commandments, His response was simple: it’s a tie! Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments. (Matt. 22: 37- 40)
Jesus exemplifies this relationship between loving God and loving His neighbors (us!). I pray we strive daily to love completely and sacrificially, just like Jesus, our Lord.
God bless you,
Shireen
