Reflections
We love him, because he first loved us. (I John 4:19)
Read in the Bible the many commands to love one another. Then try to do it. You might want to do it. That is good. And you might convince yourself for awhile that you have succeeded. But you cannot do it. You cannot love with the agape love of God. The best you will muster up a human love.
Indeed, the commandment to love one another has often been turned into just another LAW by some Christians – something we must do to keep right with God. The suggestion is, we must love others to be loved by God.
The only way in which to love another with the agape love of God is to first realize and receive God’s love for you. Indeed, we cannot even love God Himself until we first experience His love for us.
Everything in Christianity works according to this principle: It is always vertical FIRST – from God down to us by His grace – and only then will we have to give to others out of what God has given to us. No one has ANYTHING of value except they have received it from God in Christ. How could we somehow generate the love of God from out of ourselves, unless we first have received, and been changed, by the love God has for us? I must abide in the Vine as an individual branch – and then I can have to give to the other branches. Reverse this and you will have a religious love that is produced from out of the flesh – and which caters to the flesh.