We love because He first loved us – 1 John 4: 19

The greatest of all the things in this world is love. Why love? Because God is love. He created us because of His love for us. We were created out of love. 1Jn 4:8  Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love.

The manifestation of a true servant of God is shown through love. Since love comes from God, and He has shown us and given us that love, that love should be shown also by His children – to love one another, that is, we show it as a sign that we are indeed His true children. 1Jn 4:7  Dear friends, let us love one another, because love comes from God. Whoever loves is a child of God and knows God.

God manifested His love when He created us. He created us with a purpose and that purpose is to know Him, know His will and follow His commandments – these will eventually give Him glory and honor.

For many times, man did not return this love to God. Though God has shown His love for mankind, mankind had turned their ways against God by choosing to live their lives according to their own ways. They did not trust God and fear His ways. They invented laws and manners of life suitable for them.  They ignore God and His love.

In the beginning, when Adam and Eve chose to ignore God’s commandment, they hide before God. But God seek them, “Where are You?” These words are sign of God’s love for us. He wants to come to us and accept us despite our mistakes and sins.

In the many stories of the Old Testament, God’s love was manifested for His nation, Israel. In an endless manner, God showed His ultimate love for Israel. And because of His love and mercy, though Israel continually sinned against Him and His commandments, still He was there to accept them. He has sent many prophets to bring them back to Him, but Israel keep on killing all these prophets.

Until God saw that there was no man that can act as intercessor between Him and men, so He sent His Son, as many kn0w it, but we know that God manifest Himself in the flesh and made Himself a man to be the intercessor. Isa 59:16 And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him.

Through Jesus Christ, God manifested Himself and bring salvation to His people, Israel.

Did all of His people accept Him? We know the answer is no. John 1:10-11  He was in the world, and the world came into existence through him. Yet, the world didn’t recognize him.   He went to his own people, and his own people didn’t accept him.

Until now, God’s love is manifested through His words, through His mercy and blessings that the world continue to receive and through His church, we have the chance to give back His love that He has shown us. Christ shed His blood for thatchurch (Act 20:28  Pay attention to yourselves and to the entire flock in which the Holy Spirit has placed you as bishops to be shepherds for God’s church which he acquired with his own blood).

Shedding His love is an outright manifestation of His love on us. Therefore, as Christians and believers of God, since He first loved us, then it is now our turn to love Him.

What better way we can show our love to God?

The Bible mentions, that in order to love God which we cannot see, we should love one another. For if we say we love God that we cannot see, and don’t love our fellow men that we can see, then the love of God is not with us. 1Jn 4:20-21 Whoever says, “I love God,” but hates another believer is a liar. People who don’t love other believers, whom they have seen, can’t love God, whom they have not seen. Christ has given us this commandment: The person who loves God must also love other believers.

So, to love God is to love one another, not by words only or by mouth, but by deeds and actions.

We love one another by sharing ourselves to others.

We love one another by giving what we have.

We love one another if we learn to forgive someone who sinned against us.

We love one another if we learn to sacrifice for someone.

We love one another if we let others know the truth and set them free from the lies of this world.

We love one another, because it is God’s commandment.