The purest and deepest experience that I have of love is my love for my children. When I became a parent I noticed the change in me. I recognised that a love had taken hold of me, the extent of which, I had not experienced before. It almost shocked me at first. So great was the claim that these little creatures had on my affections that I felt like my life had blended into theirs. And indeed it had. I cannot boast to be a very selfless person, but the welfare of my children is a far greater concern to me than my own. I would, without hesitation, lay down my own life for my children. This has helped me, like nothing else, to understand God’s love for me. It has also helped me to understand what love actually is. Now, whenever I meet with people, I try to see them as God sees them. I try to acknowledge that the person I talk to is as dear to God as my children are to me. This perspective changes everything for me. It gives me a deep respect for others and a deep affection for them. It helps me to see them as children of God and I am able to love them as their real value would warrant. Jesus summed up God’s will for us in saying that we should love him and love each other (Mark 12:29-31). John reminds us of this here in his letter. The whole of life comes down to this; there is nothing more important: Have you loved God’s children?
Ask God to help you to love people more.
Read 1 John 4:7-21 again
