1 John 4:8 He that loves not knows not God; for God is love. I. Love THE DOMINANT QUALITY. II. MAN'S PRESUMPTUOUS CRITICISM. St. John's statement does not imply that love's activities are necessarily in accordance with human conceptions of love. Who art thou, O man, with thy limited perception, blind to all the future — who art thou, that thou darest to say what infinite, omniscient, eternal love ought to do? As well expect the fly that crawls on the dome of this majestic cathedral to interpret the purposes and methods, the disposition and attributes of the architect. Do not expect that because God is love you are going to understand all that God is doing around you and for you. It may be a token of the greatest love that you know nothing of it. III. INDULGENCE NOT LOVE. It is the office of love to seek the final good of its object; to bless the object rather than pamper it; to raise and ennoble and glorify it rather than minister to its passing whims and caprices. Does not this thought interpret some of the mysteries of life to us? Does it not let in daylight and sunlight upon the dark experiences of this sorrowing earth? (W. J. Hocking.) Parallel Verses KJV: He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. |
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