1JOHN 4:7-8 "God is Love"
Who is God? What is God? Where is God? What does God look like? These are questions we ask in our own ways in every age and stage of life. God is mysterious, and no matter how well we know our Bibles, some questions remain unanswerable. Much is left to our imaginations. But in I John, we have this lovely passage that boils it down to what is most important: simply that God is Love. We come from love, love is how we know God, God is the reason we love others. Imagine how powerful it can be for a young child to know that, simply, God is love. Knowing this simple passage sets a foundation for knowledge of God. It is the safe place for children, teens and adults to come home to as they explore and ask questions. Knowing that God is love also helps us to recognize what is and is not of God in the world, far easier than relying on a set of rules. When we recognize love, we recognize God.
Read It & Memorize It
I John 4:7-8
7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
Do It
Memorize this passage by learning a song. The one I grew up with was the Psalty version, which doesn’t stray from the text (and bonus, it includes the scriptural reference). Incorporate the song into your routine - maybe sing it before bed or at the end of a meal.
Put it in action: Make a game of recognizing God/recognizing Love for a day. Go to a place where there are people - church, downtown, a gathering - and point out moments where you see love. Say, “I see love, I see God.” It’s like a lifesize game of I Spy.
Put it in action: Make a game of recognizing God/recognizing Love for a day. Go to a place where there are people - church, downtown, a gathering - and point out moments where you see love. Say, “I see love, I see God.” It’s like a lifesize game of I Spy.
Pray It
God, you are love. We want your love to shine through us in everything we do. Amen.
