1 John 4:7-8 (NKJV):
7) Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.
8) He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
Verse 7 reads that everyone who loves meets two requirements:
1. They are born of God
2. They know God.
Verse 8 reads that he who does not love meets one requirement:
1. He does not know God.
It’s interesting to notice that you can be born of God and not know God. That is, you can be born of God and not love.
When I saw this years ago, it gave me hope. I believed I was born of God, but seemed to be a failure at living out His love. I had a lot of anger and, frankly, hate. If love is the hallmark of Christianity, the attitudes and behavior of those labeled “Christian” can often be disappointing to themselves and others.
Love is a fruit of the Spirit, a product of growth.* Romans 5:5 reads that “the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit.” The love is completely there, but begins in seed form. Its fullness (fruit) comes through growth in the knowledge of God. I must allow myself time to know God just as a farmer must allow seed to grow.
James 1:4 reads, “Let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing” We all have different growth rates at different times. My process of growth is uniquely played out between God and me.
Beloved, let us love one another…as well as we each know how…today.
* Galatians 5:22-23 (NKJV) 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
