A farmer placed a weather vane inscribed with the words "God is love" on top of his barn. One day a traveler stopped by the farm and watched the weather vane moving with the breeze. Then, with a smirk on his face, he asked, "Do you mean to say that your God is as changeable as the wind?"

The farmer shook his head and replied, "No. What I mean to say is that no matter which way the wind blows, God is love!"

The statement "God is love" implies much more than that God demonstrates His love regardless of the circumstances. It means that love is the essence of God's character. We will never be able to plumb the depths of His love--not even in eternity. But the apostle John pointed out that we can begin to understand it as we view the cross (1 Jn. 4:9-10). As we see Christ dying there for us, we catch a glimpse of the beauty of the loving heart of God.

John went on to point out that if God is love, His children should resemble Him (vv.11-21). Consequently, if there is no warm glow in our hearts for our brother, if we do not thrill to the lovely name of Jesus, we may well question the reality of our conversion experience.

Do we know and reflect the love of God?  — Henry G. Bosch