1 John 4:7-21
God's Love and Ours
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. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
13 This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. 16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.
God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. 17 This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. 18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
19 We love because he first loved us. 20 Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. 21 And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Pray Continually and Give Thanks to God
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Matthew 22:36-40
The Two Greatest Commandments Are About Love
36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
St. John teaches us that God is LOVE...St. John does not say the love is God, no he says the God is LOVE...So God defines LOVE...God sent His only Son into our world that we might live, and live an abundant life out of His LOVE...Since God LOVES us and we are to love one another...And we learn that perfect love drives out fear...When Perfect LOVE drives out our fear, then we are closer to God or have found God...
God LOVED us first so love comes from God...God is the source of love...If we acknowledge that Jesus is the Son of God, then God lives in us...Jesus showed us LOVE and how to LOVE in His actions and His Words...Jesus died for us on the cross and shows us His LOVE with His death, His forgiveness, and His complete humility...If God, through the Holy Spirit, is in us then we can rely on God's LOVE...In our everyday troubles and in our everyday lives, we must remember God's LOVE and that He has the power to change things for the good...And He does...God's will gets done on earth over time...
We must focus on God's love and make it a part of us...If we go through our daily lives doing our daily job, our hobbies, our daily routines and leaving God out of it, are day and life is lacking...As St. Paul said, pray without ceasing... Praying continually, and being focused on God at all times helps us see God better...When we only look for God at certain times, He feels farther and more removed from us...If we believe in Him and believe He sent Jesus for us, He is in you..He is a part of us, through His Holy Spirit He brings us LOVE and helps us at all times in our lives...We must use this LOVE each and everyday, all the time...
There are times when things become fearful in our lives, but if we can remain focused on Him, things will work out...As stated earlier, God's Will gets done on earth as it does in heaven...There is no fear in love...God gives us this peace and encourages us to love...Perfect LOVE drives out fear...He is the Great Comforter because He is LOVE...
God lives in us and we live in Him...If God is in us, why would we fear...If we live in Him, and are focused on Him when we are troubled and afraid are fears change...If we use His strength and LOVE then we are stronger for it...
God always wants us to love and love one another...If we do not, St. John tells us we are missing the point...If we love God, we must also love our neighbor...God connects every man and every neighbor together with love...
So whoever loves God loves his neighbor...This statement shows there is us, God, and neighbor...Three parties involved in the love process...Man can love his friends (his family), God,and his neighbor...So man loves his neighbor because of God...We love because God loved us first...Man is not love and did not create love...The source of love is God...It is God Who is LOVE...