This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. (NIV)

How often do we consider the source of something? We may marvel at the beauty of Eagle River, but do we regularly consider the fact that it flows out of Eagle Glacier? We scan the night sky for the Northern Lights, but do we ponder the solar winds interacting with earth’s magnetic field as we gasp at the beauty of the dancing lights? We enjoy our cup of coffee or another favorite beverage, but do we think of where it came from? The beans grew in some tropical climate, were harvested, roasted, packaged and eventually made it to my cup. These are simple examples, yet we so often go through our busy days enjoying and experiencing things without stopping to consider where they come from. Without focusing on the source, our gratitude is misplaced, and our sentiment is shallow.

‍

John writes this book - or epistle - to remind his readers to get back to the basics and in some ways, to consider the source. Backing up to verse 7 in chapter 4, John writes, “Love is from God.” God is the source of love. We get things backwards and out of sync when we think we are capable of love on our own. Our attempts fall short and fall flat.

‍

In verse 10, John gives us a definition of love. This is love, he says. He starts by telling us we aren’t the source. It seems that even centuries ago people needed a reminder that love doesn’t start with them. We throw around the words “I love” so often that we forget the source and cheapen the word “love.” John goes on to remind us again that God is the source - He loved us first. It is not that we love Him, and then He responds. This is what we are used to in earthly terms. But God doesn’t follow the patterns of the world; His ways are higher and greater. He loved us first.

First. Before we were born. Before we could possibly extend Him anything. But not before we were covered in sin. In Psalm 51:5, David says, “Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.” After Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden, sin has marked mankind. Yet, God loves us. He is the source of love, and still, there’s more.

‍

John goes on to say that God loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice. He loved us too much to leave us in our sin - separated from Him. His love for us is so great that He willingly sacrificed His Son who was the only One who could pay the price for our sins. This is love.

‍

This love is not a feeling or emotion. God made a costly decision to save us. This love runs far deeper than fleeting feeling or evolving emotion. He is committed to us – to our good. He wants a relationship with us – for eternity.

‍

Consider the Source today. This is love - not the world’s definition; not what you’ll hear from pop culture or music; not what makes sense in our egotistical busy world; not what we casually say when we use the same word to reference loving pizza, or a favorite team, or a cozy winter sweater.

‍

I don’t know about you, but for me slowing down and considering the Source changes everything! I can be grateful – because He loved me. I can love others out of the abundance of love He has lavished on me. I am supplied because He is the Source.

Father God, thank you for your love. You not only tell us what love is, but You demonstrate that love by the GIFT of your Son. You loved us first. You love us lavishly. You love us sacrificially. Your love is a source that is unending. Help us today to be continually reminded of Your love and that You are the source of all love. You equip us to love others – You know we can’t love on our own. May we flow freely with Your love today to a world around us that needs to know You alone are the Source. Amen.