“7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. 8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love” (1 Jo 4:7-8).
In the Apostle John’s times, many “versions” of Christianity had developed. It became necessary for the saints to be able to distinguish the true from the fake. Just like today! In our text we have one of the key proofs that one is truly born again and knows God: agape-love. Beloved, we must not be preoccupied and easily impressed by peripheral things. Our own prayers and priorities must also reflect the centrality of love in our faith. Let our top ambition be to be powerful in expressing the love of God to our neighbour and our Saviour. Let us “rate” our ministers and ministries on the basis of the depth of their love than on the polish of their lips! Furthermore, there’s a level of revelation and relationship with God that is only possible when we consistently practice the God-kind of love! We stifle our experience of the presence and power of God when we don’t radiate the agape-love of God. That’s not your portion!
Pastor Josh