by Andrew Garcia, compiled from a Missions Class at Vision School of Missions
When I first read through 1 John 4, it struck a chord deep within me. The passage resonated with questions I had been reflecting on for some time, especially during my mission in Honduras. You see, one of the questions we are often asked by locals is, “Why are you here?” It’s a question that goes beyond simple curiosity; it’s layered with hope, confusion, and sometimes disbelief. Many Hondurans dream of coming to the U.S., believing it holds the promise of a better life. But for me, the answer to why I am in Honduras is simple: love.
But it wasn’t always so clear to me. When I first became a missionary, I thought I knew what love meant—I believed it was something I could define and control. Over time, I realized that true love, the kind of love God calls us to embody, is beyond our natural abilities. It’s rooted in something deeper, something divine.
There was a moment that crystallized this for me. I was faced with a difficult situation at work, and instead of reacting out of frustration or fear, I chose to pause. I recalled the words of 1 John 4:10: “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” In that moment, I understood that love is not merely an emotion or a decision—it is an act, a sacrifice, and, most importantly, a reflection of God’s own love for us.
My three-year-old daughter, Sophia, often sings songs about Jesus loving her, and sometimes she makes up her own verses. They’re not always theologically accurate, but they’re sweet and innocent. Seeing her joy reminded me that this profound love should never become mundane to us. The danger of familiarity is that we forget to be amazed by it. Yet, when I think about the sacrifice Jesus made—dying for us, imperfect as we are—it rekindles that sense of wonder and gratitude.
Matthew Henry once wrote, “None of our words or thoughts can do justice to the free, astonishing love of a holy God toward sinners who could not profit or harm him.” This perspective is humbling and awe-inspiring. God’s love is extreme, unreasonable even, by human standards. It’s a love that’s 100% on Him, a commitment that is never reciprocated perfectly by us.
Reflecting on this has taught me that true love isn’t a transactional, 50/50 exchange. It’s giving fully, even when the other side falls short. It’s an unreasonable love, the kind that changes hearts and inspires transformation. And that is why I’m here in Honduras—to love as imperfectly but genuinely as I can, fueled by the perfect love of God.
So, as I continue this journey, I hold fast to the truth that we cannot love as God wants us to without relying entirely on Him. Love is not something we will ourselves to do; it’s a gift we receive and pass on. And in doing so, we reflect the most extraordinary love story ever told.
