We have embarked upon a little journey in one book of the bible. We are engaged in taking some time to hear what the Apostle John says in his first letter (1 John).
\xa0Our home text for 2023 comes from this little letter.\xa0
\xa0Let us love one another because love comes from God.\xa0 \xa0(1 John 4:7)
\xa0We all know that love is something every person longs for and needs to flourish in living this human life. So, how do we love and what happens when we don\u2019t and how does God love us and when he calls us to love each other, what does he mean? These are the questions to address to the Apostle because he speaks of God\u2019s love all through his letter.
\xa0Last week we began hearing that God has a future of love and his love works because he is the one who works his love.\xa0\xa0
\xa0Now John named the \u2018elephant in the room. God is love but we struggle to love. In fact, so often we love self, way more than others and this disrupts our fellowship with our God, Father, Son and Spirit and as fellow \u2018children of God\u2019.\xa0
\xa0John will name this besetting problem and show us how to live in this struggle to love today. It will require some honest appraisal of you by God. It is worth the vulnerability, because it leads back to this love for which we all long.\xa0
\xa0May the light of Christ\u2019s love fill you and encourage you in your loving of others and yourself this day.\xa0