04-19-20

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
April 19, 2020
Scripture: 1st John 4:7
Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.

Thought for the Day: I have always felt a special fondness for the word, Beloved. The Greek word is: Agapetos, that has at its core the word: Agape, the specific word in Greek that is assigned to divine love or self-sacrificing love. What does it mean to be assigned to the community that has as its parameters and purpose the love of God? In my sermon this morning, I will focus on a verse found later in this chapter of 1st John. In just this chapter, the word beloved appears three times, and the word love (agape) more than twenty-five times. Since there are only 21 verses, that’s a lot of love. It is an amazing chapter, one that needs to be central in the reading of any Jesus-follower. And my one take away this day (though there are a ton within this single verse) is the importance of choosing to love as a way of touching and sensing God. God first loved us, but when we actively choose to love in response to that act in Christ Jesus, we become a nativity of the divine, and through that experience, we find intimacy with God. In simple terms, if you want to know someone better, you might want to try doing what they like doing.

Prayer: It might be a bit more challenging right now, but we are trying to love one another as you have taught us, O Lord. Continue to provide us lessons and opportunities to grow in love, and in doing so, grow in our relationship with you. Amen.

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