1 John 4:8 The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love.
ὁ μὴ ἀγαπῶν οὐκ ἔγνω τὸν θεόν, ὅτι ὁ θεὸς ἀγάπη ἐστίν.
If one is not loving towards others, this is evidence that the person is not listening to the Holy Spirit because the Spirit produces love (Galatians 5:22). There is something that is causing the person to live a fleshly, self-focused life. Something is hindering love. If we find ourselves in the place where it is difficult to love others, first we must ask how our relationship with God is. Are we indeed walking in the light? Is there unconfessed sins or wrong attitudes? Are our motives pure or self-serving in any way? These and other responses will keep us from knowing God deeply and personally. We will know God only on the surface. The thing about love is that it is not simply simply to do or know. We must change the verb into doing and knowing. Love is fathomless, bottomless, and endless. There is always more to know and experience and do. This means also that there is always more to discover about God. We do not simply know God, but we get to know God and continue to discover and experience God. We must know just live at the surface, convincing ourselves that we love and thus know God. In humility we become loving and continue to discover more of God’s essence and presence.
For older posts, click here.