Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
1 John 4:7-8 NIV
Born of God
Canada is one of the few countries that will give automatic citizenship to a child if they were born here, even if the parent or parents are not a Canadian citizen. But just because a child was born here does not mean that the parents can automatically stay in the country and become a Canadian citizen. In most cases, if a parent doesn’t already have permanent residency or a Canadian citizenship, they will have to return to their country of origin with their Canadian-born child.
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Over the past few days, we have been focusing on what it means to love others, as God has loved us. In 1 John 4, the apostle uses the Greek word agape, which is the full, no-strings-attached love of God. It was fully expressed in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. When we receive Him by faith as Saviour and Lord our sins are washed away, and we stand redeemed in His presence. It is unlike any kind of human love. So, John says this in 1 John 4:7-8: “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” In the Greek it calls us to agape one another, for agape comes from God. Everyone who agapes has been born of God and knows love. Only those who have experienced the agape of God in Jesus Christ can love others like this. The command is simple – as we have been loved by God in Christ, we are to love.
These have been words from the heart.
Bob Beasley