Friday 08 January 2010

Background

Today we have the central message of John's first letter. God islove. It seems such a simple thing, and yet we find it so hard tounderstand.

God does not love, God is love. This isa much more profound thing. God exists only to love and so existsonly to be in relationship with others. God created us because oflove, redeems us because of love, stands alongside us because oflove, and gives us life eternal because of love. When we rememberthat love never fails, the extent of God's love becomes almost toomuch too bear. Sometimes we stop ourselves from experiencing thatlove fully because we fear the consequences of such vulnerability.When we love we are limited by our humanity and our desire toreceive love in return. God is not limited in that way. God's loveis truly unconditional and truly without restraint.

The proper response to such incredible love is to love in return.God does not demand this of us, nor does God withdraw love if wefail, but rejoices in our relationship with Godself and with oneanother. In Jesus God gave us the supreme example of what ispossible in human love. We were shown love that crosses socialboundaries and unites broken communities. It is this kind of lovethat makes forgiveness possible and gives us the opportunity tobegin again.

To Ponder

God loves us unconditionally and withoutrestraint. How can you show love to the people you meet today?

Jesus came to show us how to love even those wefind it difficult to get along with. To what extent can followingthe example of Christ really change our lives?

God's love is so profound that it is sometimesdifficult for us to experience. How can you open yourself to thislove and allow yourself to truly relate to your creator?