WHAT KIND OF LOVE IS THIS ?

1John 3:1 See what great love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God — and so we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

This is a wonderful verse. John seems to be in a place of amazement as he ponders the love of God. It’s as if he is saying “what kind of love is this?” He was closer than any other human to this supernatural love while Christ was here on earth. He even referred to himself as “the one whom the Lord loved”. He was not only part of the inner circle, He was the Lord’s best friend on earth. John is reflecting again on the beauty of this love and he seems to be saying this love is from another country; today we would say it was from another world. Actually the original language that John wrote in said exactly that, this love is from another country. Here is how Wuest describes it.

“John is calling upon all the saints to wonder at the particular kind of love God has bestowed upon them. “What manner of” is potapēn, “from what country, race or tribe?” The word speaks of something foreign. The translation could read, “Behold, what foreign kind of love the Father has bestowed upon us.” The love of God is foreign to the human race. It is not found naturally in humanity. When it exists there, it is in a saved individual, and by reason of the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Smith suggests, “from what far realm? What unearthly love, … how otherworldly.”

The love of God has no attachments, He loves us simply because He chooses to. It’s not because we are smart, handsome or beautiful, talented, or hard working. He loves us because that is His nature. His love attracts us, convicts us, justifies us, sanctifies us, satisfies us, and empowers us. The love of God makes us worshippers, friends, students of His word, passionate for lost souls, merciful to the poor, compassionate for the hurting; in effect the love of God transforms us to become like Jesus.

Now this is the amazing part, all of these things happen as a result of allowing the Lord to love us. His love is charged with supernatural power and transforms everything that it touches. If His love has captured you, then just allow Him to come closer. Its in these encounters that we are changed by love.