We love because He first loved us. 1 John 4:19
“The payment and the price of love is to receive more love.”
John of the Cross (1542-1591) in Spiritual Canticle, 9.7.
Yesterday in my Pinehurst Bible Study group we looked at 1 John 4. Repeatedly the text reminded us that God is love and our responsibility is to love our brothers and sisters.
The command to love God and love others is what Jesus desires of us. But it’s hard to do in the wake of very divisive election season. There’s so much angst and anger out there.
So how do we serve as conduits of love in challenging times. John gives us the motivation, namely, that God loved us first. He modeled the way for us.
And John of the Cross suggests how we fill our proverbial tank to love others generously. We position ourselves like a cup under a spigot. We receive more love.
Let’s resolve to do this today and every day. Rather than allow challenging people and situations to foster hate and frustration in us, let’s receive and give love generously.