We Love Because He First Loved Us

1 JOHN 4:17-19
“Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us.
”‭‭I John‬ ‭4‬:‭17‬-‭19‬ ‭NKJV‬
‬https://bible.com/bible/114/1jn.4.17-19.NKJ

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Love is more than a feeling or nice words. It is a choice; an action, an act of care toward another, and comes without any selfish agendas or expectation of something in return.
“Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”
‭‭I Corinthians‬ ‭13:4-7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
My brethren, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”
‭‭John‬ ‭3:16-18‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
If one is afraid of the future, eternity, or God’s coming judgement, he or she can remind themselves of God’s perfect love for all people. God cares so much for His people that He sent His only begotten Son to be the sacrifice of all sin; the payment that affords every single one of us the opportunity of life everlasting.
If you believe, you shall not be in fear, because you have received the love of Christ that secures the future of all believers.
Furthermore because of one’s commitment to God in faith, the Holy Spirit who is in every truly committed believer, will give them not just the desire to love others, but the power to do it (PHILIPPIANS 2:13).
My brethren, “If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.”
‭‭I John‬ ‭4‬:‭20‬-‭21‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
Fear, like hot is the opposite of cold, is the very opposite of faith, and without it, one cannot please God.
“By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks. By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “and was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭11‬:‭4‬-‭6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
Fear is the fuel of depression, and brings with it all kinds of mental health issues, depression, torment, and even suicidal thoughts. Furthermore it is damaging to the bodies immune system and opens doors to all kinds of physical health issues.
No wonder God’s Word tells us “do not fear” some 365 times throughout the Bible.
My beloved, just a mustard seed of faith can move the mountains in your life (MATHEW 17:20), but to receive it, one must believe that God is who He says He is.
In faith fear cannot exist, nor can anxiety/ depression, for love cast out fear, “Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.”
‭‭I John‬ ‭4‬:‭15‬-‭16‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
My beloved, to love is a commandment and therefore a duty of care toward all people.
“Jesus said, “”You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.””
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭22‬:‭37‬-‭40‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
To love with all one’s heart, is to love deep down in one’s sub conscious mind, that it cannot fade or be corrupted.
To love with one’s soul, one’s mind, will and emotions, drives our thoughts and emotions to manifests into an ever growing craving to be closer to God and personal relationship with Him.
What is meant by to “love with all one’s mind” which is a part of the soul, is telling us to have true knowledge of Him. To fill our minds with knowledge and know Him well; it is a command telling us to learn and gain knowledge about Him.
As one studies, he gains knowledge and understanding of who He is and what He has done which shall naturally produce more faith and respect of our awesome God.
To gain understanding of God’s will, one must present his body a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God. Not being conformed to this world, but by being transformed by the renewing of one’s mind, that he comes to understand what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God (ROMANS 12:1-2).
The command to love your neighbor is like the first and greatest of all commands, in other words, just as important, for all the Laws and prophets stand on the Law of love. It is the very foundation of Christ ministry and His way of life.
To love your neighbor is all people in every corner of the world, both friends and foe.
Jesus made this very clear when He told us, ““You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭43‬-‭48‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
But if one is truly going to love others, he or she must first learn to love themselves.
You can love yourself because God loves you, and you can like yourself because God likes you.
You know this to be true because Jesus said, “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. These things I command you, that you love one another.”
‭‭John‬ ‭15‬:‭16‬-‭17‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
My beloved, you can respect yourself because God respects you; He took your shame away (HEBREWS 10:22).
In baptism, He split the sea so that you can walk right through it, He drowned your fears in perfect love. Therefore, you are a child of God.
My beloved, receive it, believe it, and speak it over yourself, saying, “I am a child of God,” and watch the darkness flee to be replaced with joy and peace in the chaos of this world. Not peace as the world gives (JOHN 14:27), but God’s peace that surpasses all understanding and it shall guard your hearts and minds through Christ (PHILIPPIANS 4:7), and the joy in the Lord, is your strength (NEHEMIAH 8:10).
Choose it, use it, and be happy and content in this failing world until Christ returns, knowing that the best is yet to come (1 CORINTHIANS 2:9).
All glory to God forever and ever! Amen.