As it’s February, I wanted to zero in on some posts about Love, including Bible verses that show Christians how we should show love to others. Today’s Godfirmation is a reminder that love is a powerful attribute of God himself.

In the book of 1 John, Christians are called to love others, not only because love is from God, but because God Himself IS love.

God calls us to love others, not because it’s the “right thing to do.” He calls us to love because it’s a part of Who He is. He has a steadfast love for us, and has shown it time and time again. God’s loving nature is why He sent Jesus Christ to die for our sins in the first place to redeem us to be in right relationship with Him.

But here’s the part that always gets me about this passage. 1 John 4:8 clearly says, “Anyone who does NOT love does not know God, because God is love.” You can’t possibly truly know and have experienced the love, mercy, grace, kindness, and overall goodness of God and then not share those fruits with other people, even when they don’t act, talk, or think like us.

I don’t about you, but I definitely don’t always show love in the ways that I should. But each of us ought to always be striving to love others in the same way that God loves us. Not only those who are cherished family and friends, or our significant others, but EVERYONE.

As we show love to others, especially nonbelievers, we are, in essence, showing them a part of Who God is. Which, if we think about it, can help to bring them closer to seeing Who God is for themselves.