Why? Each of us have asked that question at some point in our lives.
You may not remember, but I am sure that your mother and father remember it, lol. Lord knows, I have answered that question many times as a father and a pastor. Sometimes those answers are the proverbial, “Because I said so, that’s why.” At other times, I have had to think through my answer carefully, making every effort to undergird my answer with great compassion and empathy.
I have been reflecting, recently, on my motivations for saying and doing certain things. Searching my heart and asking the Lord to root out those things that are not of Him. I’ve asked Him, “Why?” many times.
Today, He reminded me of something simple. In the midst of my examination of my motives and suppositions about loving others, God, the loving father He is, did not give me a “Because I said so, that’s why.” He gently, yet firmly, reminded me:
We love because he loved us first.
1 John 4:19
We love.
Why?
Because, He loved us first.
We love our sister and brother, because He loved us first.
We love our neighbor, because He loved us first.
We love our enemy, because He loved us first.
We love (you fill in the blank), because He loved us first.
And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love Yeah they'll know we are Christians by our love
Happy Wednesday!