Love Restored
Text: 1 John 4:7-8
Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. (NRSV)
“God is Love” are the words that are emblazoned high up on the wall of our sanctuary behind the altar. The story goes that these words were on that wall prior to the addition to the sanctuary. When the addition was put on and all the walls were painted, these words were painted over. However, no matter how many coats of paint were applied to the wall, the words kept bleeding through and refused to be covered. It did not take too long for the members of the church to decide that instead of trying to cover over the words “God is Love,” the words needed to be restored to their original brilliance.
Perhaps this is a good illustration for what John is saying to those who read these words in his first letter. We are created by the love of God and in the image of God. However, as we move through this world we are covered by the sin of the world. The world tries to hide the love of God that was implanted in us from the beginning. But that love never really goes away. It may be harder to see as the sin of the world paints over our lives that were designed to be lived in the love of God, but it never really gets hidden completely. In Jesus, God is restoring the original brilliance of his love in us. Through the gift of God’s grace and forgiveness, the love of God from which we were created, and which had always been implanted in us, is restored in those who follow in Jesus’ footsteps.
God is Love and those who love as God loves, are those who have been born again through the gift of the Holy Spirit given to those who have received forgiveness from their sins through the gift of Jesus Christ. Everyone who is born of God and knows God shines with the love of God for others to see the glory of God’s love in the world.
Pray with me:
God of love and God who is Love clean me from the sin in my life that tries to cover your love. Restore me to the original love from which you have created me and which in me has been implanted from the beginning. May my life be a beacon of your love shining out into this world which you have loved so much that you gave your only Son. AMEN.
Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. (NRSV)
“God is Love” are the words that are emblazoned high up on the wall of our sanctuary behind the altar. The story goes that these words were on that wall prior to the addition to the sanctuary. When the addition was put on and all the walls were painted, these words were painted over. However, no matter how many coats of paint were applied to the wall, the words kept bleeding through and refused to be covered. It did not take too long for the members of the church to decide that instead of trying to cover over the words “God is Love,” the words needed to be restored to their original brilliance.
Perhaps this is a good illustration for what John is saying to those who read these words in his first letter. We are created by the love of God and in the image of God. However, as we move through this world we are covered by the sin of the world. The world tries to hide the love of God that was implanted in us from the beginning. But that love never really goes away. It may be harder to see as the sin of the world paints over our lives that were designed to be lived in the love of God, but it never really gets hidden completely. In Jesus, God is restoring the original brilliance of his love in us. Through the gift of God’s grace and forgiveness, the love of God from which we were created, and which had always been implanted in us, is restored in those who follow in Jesus’ footsteps.
God is Love and those who love as God loves, are those who have been born again through the gift of the Holy Spirit given to those who have received forgiveness from their sins through the gift of Jesus Christ. Everyone who is born of God and knows God shines with the love of God for others to see the glory of God’s love in the world.
Pray with me:
God of love and God who is Love clean me from the sin in my life that tries to cover your love. Restore me to the original love from which you have created me and which in me has been implanted from the beginning. May my life be a beacon of your love shining out into this world which you have loved so much that you gave your only Son. AMEN.
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