1 John 4:19 – We love, because He first loved us.
Rom.5:5 – and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
We are a different species from the population that surrounds us. That is what Paul was talking about when he said that we are new creations. We are totally different than the way we were because we have become part of a different species, sons and daughters of God. What exactly is it that has changed all of us? Well according to today’s verses it is the love of God. When we first tasted the love of Jesus and just how personal it is our hearts were taken over. Like John said, I love Him because He first loved me. Now this might sound quite insignificant but is anything but that. I tasted His infinite love when I was born again, there is no other love that is like His. This love not only captured me but filled me with an unmistakeable love for Him. The love we have for Him now is not natural, it is supernatural. It is His love that He poured into us that pours back to Him. There is really nothing you can do about that, being captured by His love is quite unshakeable. Here is how the Christ Centered Expository Commentary describes this passage.
“1 John 4:19 is one of the most simple and straightforward verses in the Bible. The theological order is important. “We love.” Why? “Because He first loved us.” God took the initiative, not us. Our love finds its origin in God’s love. He loves us, and the love that now abides in us and has been perfected in us overflows in loving words and actions to others. The Father’s prior love is source and cause for our love of others. If I am not loving others as I ought, then I do not know God’s love as I should.”
Paul said that this love has been poured into our hearts. Every time you are filled with the Spirit the love of God is literally poured into you and all over you. Love becomes our portion, we love Him and share His love for our broken world. This verse explains a lot about Christians. Why do I worship? Because I love Him. Why do we tell the lost about Jesus? Because we want everyone else to love Him too.
