Transformed by God's LoveSample

Passing on God's love

“Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and His love is perfected in us.” (1 John 4:11-12 ESV)

God's love is unique. None of us can love perfectly as He does. Yet we are called to pass on His love to others. This is even an explicit command from God (1 John 4:21). Jesus Himself puts it this way: “Just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35 ESV)

Loving others is a necessary consequence of God's love for us. Once we have tasted and experienced something of God's immeasurable love, it is impossible to continue living selfishly. John puts it very bluntly: “If anyone says, ‘ love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar” (1 John 4:20 ESV).

At the same time, loving others is a constant challenge. It does not happen automatically! That is why John keeps hammering home the message: “We ought to love one another!” This is a command, something we must actively do. It is not (always) a feeling. In this, too, we must be like God. His love was directed toward hostile, sinful people from whom He initially received no love in return.

Do you try to pass on God's love? What positive or negative experiences have you had in this regard?