Ouch

So I just read 1 John 4 yesterday. If you read that passage without feeling any kind of brokenness, I feel sorry for you.

The idea that love exists only through God is amazing. Think about it- romance is not love-romance builds into love. Dating is not love. Dating leads to love. But even better than that- each of these things, if they are leading toward love, they are leading toward God.

Verse 8 says this, "Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love." Basic algebra in this verse: Love=God (or God=love). This means you can switch this verse around a bit. here are some other translations, just for you.
"Anyone who does not know God does not know love, for God is love."
"Anyone who dows not obey God does not love, because God is love."

Get the idea?
To know God is to love God. To love God is to obey God. You can't love your wife and disobey her requests/commands.

This verse should feel like a sledgehammer to your knees, delivering crushing blows driving you to your face in utter brokenness.

It hurt me. Alot. I have always said that I love love, that I am a lover, that I know love. But this verse took me out back like a sick horse. Because get this- I don't love like I should. Not really. I love those that are easy to love, even worse- I love the idea of love. But if God is love, and love is God, and to know love is to know and obey God, I fall short. I fall short on both ways- I don't love like I need to, so according to this verse I don't know God at all like I thought I did; and I don't know love like I thought I did, because I don't over God like I need to.

This verse should sum up our faith. Not our religion, which consists of missions and outreach as well as faith, but ourfaith. Our Personal relationship with Christ. This verse is what our faith is all about- love.

And even better- if you are having trouble with patients, take a look at your love. We try so hard to become more patient, while saying "I got enough of love. I'm good on that."
If we are having to pray for patients, or kindness, or gentleness- we do not have enough love.


So why do we love? Do we love because Hollywood tells us to? Do we because we are sick of the hatred in this world? Do we love because it amazes us? We shouldn't. We should love because God first loved us (Verse 19). Anything else is superflous.

So- do you love? Do you know love? Do you know God?

Read this passage and take a look at yourself. You'll be suprise at what you find.