The movie,Contagion, made its debut recently. I haven’t seen it, but I was intrigued by Wikipedia’s description of the plot line:
Contagion follows the rapid progress of a lethal airborne virus that kills within days. As the fast-moving pandemic grows, the worldwide medical community races to find a cure and control the panic that spreads faster than the virus itself.
Viruses are contagious and if they get a firm foothold they can be almost unstoppable.
As we begin our study of I John, we will discover something that is equally contagious but much more beneficial - God’s love. And just like the movie virus, God’s love can spell the difference between life and death.
Love is Critical
Let me explain…
An interesting study was done in 1943 investigating the mysterious deaths of infants in the Foundling Home. These babies had been cared for by trained nurses, daily examined by physicians, and visitors carefully washed their hands and wore sterile gowns. Yet by the end of two years, 34 of the original 91 infants had died. Why?
Dr. Spitz found the answer in an unexpected place. As an overworked nursing staff struggled to manage their workload, they had no time to spare for holding the babies, and even feeding time was handled impersonally by nurses propping up the bottles so the babies could feed themselves. The conclusion at the end of the study was that babies need a loving touch to thrive.
Love is not optional, it is critical. We were created to give and receive love.
But like the Foundling Home, the world can be a harsh and impersonal place. Instead of enjoying a deep love given by parents, family, friends and spouses, many have received only wounds instead.
You Are Loved
In spite of that, the good news is that we really are loved. Each of us has a heavenly Father who loves us without condition and without limit. But it’s hard to believe and rest in that kind of radical love when it’s a love that you’ve never seen or experienced in any other way.
So, as John begins this important letter to the church he begins by reintroducing us to the undeniable fact that we are radically loved. I John 3:16 puts it this way,
This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.
And it gets better than that. God’s love is so vast and limitless that it does more than simply fill our hearts and meet our every need; it pours out of us to bless others as well. In the same verse, I John 3:16, John follows up his original thought with this one: This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.
Are You Loving Others?
God’s love is contagious.
Are you enjoying all there is to enjoy of this contagious love? Is your present experience of God’s love so great that you are willing to live and die for it? There is one way to know for sure – and that is by looking at your present relationships. How are you treating those around you? Your family? Your friends? Even your enemies? John teaches us that when you understand and receive the radical love of God it will spread to others.
I hope you will listen to the audio recording accompanying this lesson and continue with us in the study of I John so together we can know, fully experience and pass on more of God’s contagious love. You can pass it on by leaving your comments below.
Sign up for our Virtual Bible Study, “Contagious Love,” to receive the audio teaching and handout, as well as the homework – or to get more information – Just click the link below:
Click Here for “Contagious Love – A Virtual Bible Study on 1 John”
Tags: Bible study, I John, love, online bible study, virtual bible study
I never thought about God’s love being “viral,” but it really is. Once you get “infected,” you are definitely contagious! I love that analogy. I’m going to go expose somebody today - I hope they catch it!
Just finished listening to the audio. A few pts are on the top of my brain right now
Today, it might even sound arrogant. But yes, his identity had changed. I hadn’t thought about that. Kim, when I heard you saying that on the audio, I said over and over to myself “Yeah!” It was sinking in.
1) John — the disciple that Jesus loved. I always thought that description of himself was a little strange
2) I was familiar with the story of the president of Columbia (I think I read it in CT way back when, too). But I had never heard him speak. I cried through that part — and after. Love involves commitment, but that commitment is related to gratefulness/love not guilt. This was particularly profound in light of recent news reports about Alzheimer’s and spousal commitments.
3) The verse from “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross.” The verse is meaningful to me, too. Several years ago, I hunted down a few digital versions of the hymn — and forgot about it. When the audio was over, I couldn’t figure out what music was playing right after it — it wasn’t in English. I’d listened to the song for several minutes, and figured Kim speaks multiple languages! Then I realized it was something I must’ve downloaded! I had iTunes in alphabetical order & have no idea what it was. But that’s when I remembered that I also have “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross” on iTunes. More alphabetical songs: Just as I was typing the part about the president from Columbia, the song “When I’m 64″ by the Beatles started playing! “Will you still need me, will you still feed me when I’m 64?” I’m so thankful we don’t have to ask those questions about God’s love for us.
Hi Renee,
I, too, am so thankful that God love never, ever, ever fails! He loves us with a tenacious love.
And I am smiling today, as I rejoice over you, “Renee ~ the one that Jesus loves.”
Have a great day,
Kim