1 John 4:7
[7] “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.”
The verse before us begins by addressing the saints of God. John uses the word “Beloved”. How fitting this word is for this verse because it is a word of love, and John is going to emphasize four truths concerning love. I call these cords of love because they seemingly tie together.
The first cord I see is the sharing of love. John gives the admonishment to love one another. Although at times some people can be more challenging to love than others, it is natural for a saint to love other saints. There is a kindred spirit that draws us closer together. True believers have a desire to share brotherly love with one another.
The second cord I see is the source of love. How are we to love total strangers who claim to know God? The answer is simple, it is because we have the love of God in our hearts. Romans 5:5 tells us, “the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost”. God gives his children the ability to love one another.
The third cord I see is security of love. John tells us that everyone who is born of God will have this love. We will love the church, the Bible, the singing, the praising, and the teaching. We love the things of God because we know God. Love is evidence of salvation.
The final cord I see is the strength of love. Love causes us to know God more and more. The more we know of God, the more we love Him. Daily devotions and prayer draw us closer to God, and allow us to know Him more on a personal level. It strengthens our relationship with God and helps us to know His will and live in a way that pleases Him. These are the cords of love that bind us together and binds us to our master.