1 John 4:1-21 - Digging Down to the Heart of the Matter

Bear Grylls filters water (< see the video) from a stream by digging a trench parallel to the stream. As his trench goes below the level of the stream, water filters through the earth and sand and seeps into the trench. The water drawn from the trench looks brown and unappealing, but it has been filtered and will not carry the parasites that would have been ingested from drinking directly out of the stream. On the surface, one source of water looks just as good as the other. But one is safe and free from disease and the other isn't. Funny, the good stuff is NOT the water drawn from the mainstream, but from a smaller source off to the side.

Love is like that. The definitions and behaviors called love in our mainstream culture are tainted and unhealthy. It is the less obvious, off to the side definition of love found in the gospel that is the good stuff. "I wanna know what love is," anguished Foreigner in the pop rock ballad. It is an age old question asked every minute of every day. What does the apostle John tell us about love? How do we filter out all the many-varied definitions and worldly behaviors and come to the real thing? Here's what he says ...

Love comes from God.
God loves us.
God demonstrated love when He sent His Son into the world.
God's love was self-sacrificing.
Love will give up something so that another may gain.
Our love can reflect God's love.
God's love can be made perfect in us if we will strive to be like Jesus.
Love never frightens or intimidates because love never seeks to harm.
Love doesn't discriminate; love is for all.

Jesus Himself said, "No greater love has anyone than this - that they lay down their life for a friend." Love is willing to give up everything for the one it loves. Jesus did more than that. "Even while we were still sinners Christ died for us." He laid down His life for an enemy. His is the ultimate love.

He gave up everything, that we might gain everything.

Pray: Dear God, teach me how to love!