Love Naturally

 John 4:7-12

 

Let us love one another . . . Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. (1 John 4:7)

 

I PREFER TO BEGIN A NEW PLANT in a small flower pot and place it in my kitchen window. The plant never fails to bend toward the sun as soon as the smallest sprout breaks through that tiny patch of earth. When I notice the plant bending, I will turn the flower pot slightly. Sometimes the plant will again bend itself toward the sun in as little as an hour. No one prompts it to do this. It does so naturally. All plants seek the light.

 

Perhaps you have experienced something similar in your own life. You naturally turn toward the people with whom you have an affinity. People often say that I take after certain members of my family because I share specific characteristics with them. Many times I've heard the comment "She takes after her father" in reference to my blue eyes, sense of humor, or ability to talk at length.

 

This should be true of us as we pursue a personal relationship with God; we should increasingly be known for our association with Him. We take on His character, His nature. The primary characteristic is that we share with Him is love. An absence or deficiency of love should cause us to consider the condition of our relationship with our Father. We should long for the day when others will say of us, "They take after their Father."

 

Tonya Ashley

 

Choose to reflect God's character today.