Changed by His Love
1 John 4:8: He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
To know God means to be in a deep relationship to Him—to share His life and enjoy His love. This knowing is not simply a matter of understanding facts; it is a matter of perceiving truth (cf. 1 John 2:3–5). We must understand “he that loveth not knoweth not God” (1 John 4:8) in this light.
Certainly many unsaved people love their families and even sacrifice for them. And no doubt many of these same people have some kind of intellectual understanding of God. What, then, do they lack? They lack a personal experience of God. To paraphrase 1 John 4:8, “The person who does not have this divine kind of love has never entered into a personal, experiential knowledge of God. What he knows is in his head, but it has never gotten into his heart.” 1
Loving Him
If you really want to experience more of God right now, then read Luke 11:9-13, and make your request to the Heavenly Father just as He encouraged you to do in verse thirteen. “How much more He has for you,” if only you ask Him. Ask Him now!
For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, And abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You. Psalm 86:5
Loving Others
Head knowledge without a surrendering heart of faith will save no one.
Make Me Like You
Lord, thank You for allowing us to experience more of Your grace, love, and truth.
1. Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, pp. 515–516). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
