The Bible says that God is love, 1 Jn 4:8.  Love is in his nature.  So, we must know what to do with God’s love.

Receive his love – 1 Jn 4:7-10.  God’s love was manifested in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  He is the propitiation for our sins.  He appeased God’s wrath when he took our sins upon himself and died for us.  So, here’s what to do.  Receive his love by receiving the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior.

Reciprocate his love – 1 Jn 4:19.  We love him, because he first loved us.  Once you have received his love, reciprocate his love. Love him back.  The first and great commandment in Matt 22:36-38 is to love God with all your heart, soul, and mind.  As in our human relationships, like marriage, love doesn’t just go one way.  Each loves the other.  And so it is with God.  He loves us and we should love him.

Reflect his love – 1 Jn 4:11, 1 Jn 4:20-5:3.  The second commandment is like unto the first, Matt 22:39-40.  We should love our neighbor as ourself.  In Gal 5:14 all the law is fulfilled in one word, love thy neighbor as thyself.  

As the moon reflects sunlight, so our lives should reflect God’s love.  It should flow into us like a reservoir and through us like a river.  We should not be stagnant ponds.  As we communicate God’s love to others, his love abounds in us.

For example, husbands are to love their wives as Christ loves the church, Eph 5:25.  The more of God’s love you have, the more you have to give to your wife.  In 2 Cor 8:7-8, as the Corinthians proved the sincerity of their love by giving, the more they received, 2 Cor 9:7.  Likewise, we reflect God’s superlative love, rather than our mediocre love, when we love our enemies, Matt 5:43-48.

Conclusion: We are nothing until we have charity, 1 Cor 13:1-8.  And charity is simply reflecting God’s love to others that we have received from him and reciprocated to him.

If you haven’t received God’s Son, Jesus Christ, receive him by faith today.  If you have been saved, then reciprocate God’s love and reflect it to others.  

For a companion sermon listen to God Loves You.