The older I get, the more I realize how simple the Kingdom of God is. The complexity of life is caused by our rebellion against God. Our passage for today is a beautiful example of that. First of all, it tells us plainly that “agape” love comes from God. Next, he tells us that everyone who loves the way God loves (agape) has been born of God. The complication comes because humans have come up with different definitions of the word love; brotherly love, erotic love, etc. In this passage, God tells us plainly that people who do not love the way He does, do not know Him. This kind of love is not an opinion or theoretical. God tells us that His love has been personified, and it can be seen in the life of His one and only Son. Anyone who wants to know what God’s definition of love is can look at the life and teaching of Jesus Christ.
Jesus was obedient, simple, and selfless. When a person is truly born again spiritually, the seed of God’s love is planted in their physical body just as a natural seed is planted in the ground. In the same way, water causes the natural seed to bud and flourish. God tells us that His word does that to the Spiritual seed planted in us. (See Isaiah 55:10-11) When we are obedient to Scripture, we demonstrate that we are in agreement with God and love Him. When we read a passage of Scripture that tells us to do something, and we set it aside because it conflicts with some plan that we have, we are going to experience the fruit of rebellion which is chaos and confusion. I have not arrived at a state of perfection. Still, I am progressively practicing obedience to God’s word, and to that degree, my life is becoming simpler.