1 John 4:19 "We love him, because he first loved us."
Could it be any more simple? Could it be any more beautiful? He loves us! His love for us predates our very existence, yet it was always there. A fierce, unrelenting love, that will never stop.
As Paul says, in us, in our flesh, there is no good thing. Love is the greatest thing. Therefore, we know that it did not come from within ourselves. God's love is so big, so powerful, that it creates more love. That is the kind of love with which we are called to love our brothers and sisters, our neighbors, our spouses, our enemies. But most importantly, God.
Take today to just dwell on God's eternal love.
Friday, July 28, 2017
Thursday, July 27, 2017
Perfect Love, No Fear
1 John 4:18 "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love."
A Christian, dwelling in Christ's love, will not have fear. Crippling fear is the root of many sins. Murmuring, grumbling, complaining, often lying, and the list goes on. Fear is saying that God does not have control of my life or whatever situation I am in.
Perfect love, love that is complete and whole, rids me of fear. Fear cannot survive in an environment where God's love invades. Truly dwelling in God's love, His kindness, His thoughtfulness, His care for me, leaves no room for fear, for a lack of trust in Him. Because I know how much He loves me, I have no reason for fear.
Is there fear in my life? In what area of my life am I failing to truly dwell in God's love for me? Can I allow His love to wash over every area of my life?
A Christian, dwelling in Christ's love, will not have fear. Crippling fear is the root of many sins. Murmuring, grumbling, complaining, often lying, and the list goes on. Fear is saying that God does not have control of my life or whatever situation I am in.
Perfect love, love that is complete and whole, rids me of fear. Fear cannot survive in an environment where God's love invades. Truly dwelling in God's love, His kindness, His thoughtfulness, His care for me, leaves no room for fear, for a lack of trust in Him. Because I know how much He loves me, I have no reason for fear.
Is there fear in my life? In what area of my life am I failing to truly dwell in God's love for me? Can I allow His love to wash over every area of my life?
Tuesday, July 25, 2017
God Dwelleth In Us
1 John 4:12 "No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us."
There is a reason behind the order in which the thoughts in the Bible are laid out. It isn't done haphazardly, or without purpose. So why is the first sentence followed by the second sentence of this verse?
No one has seen God. Yet He dwells in those who love. Therefore, the love that we demonstrate is the nearest thing to God some people on this earth will ever see. This makes sense, considering the fact that God is love. True, godly love is the purest expression of God this earth can know at this time until He returns.
We must be careful to realize that because we love, does not mean that God is in us. There are many heathen who do not know God at all who are able to demonstrate a kind of love. Rather, it is because God is in us that we are able to demonstrate love. We love, because He first loved us.
Can people look at my life and see a reflection of Who God is through my love for those around me?
There is a reason behind the order in which the thoughts in the Bible are laid out. It isn't done haphazardly, or without purpose. So why is the first sentence followed by the second sentence of this verse?
No one has seen God. Yet He dwells in those who love. Therefore, the love that we demonstrate is the nearest thing to God some people on this earth will ever see. This makes sense, considering the fact that God is love. True, godly love is the purest expression of God this earth can know at this time until He returns.
We must be careful to realize that because we love, does not mean that God is in us. There are many heathen who do not know God at all who are able to demonstrate a kind of love. Rather, it is because God is in us that we are able to demonstrate love. We love, because He first loved us.
Can people look at my life and see a reflection of Who God is through my love for those around me?
Friday, July 21, 2017
Love One Another
1 John 4:7 "Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God."
Christianity is not complicated, however neither is it easy. Love. Such a simple word, yet so incredible deep. Love as a feeling can be difficult at times. However, love as an action can sometimes feel impossible. The only way we can demonstrate it to others is if we have experienced His love ourselves.
The word for love in this passage is the social or moral love for our fellow man. It relates back to the love Jesus showed when washing the disciples feet. A selfless, other-centered love. A feeling that isn't taking into consideration how I feel, but how others feel, and how my actions can benefit them.
It's so simple, yet far from easy. Carefully observe your actions today. With this definition in mind, are they truly loving?
Christianity is not complicated, however neither is it easy. Love. Such a simple word, yet so incredible deep. Love as a feeling can be difficult at times. However, love as an action can sometimes feel impossible. The only way we can demonstrate it to others is if we have experienced His love ourselves.
The word for love in this passage is the social or moral love for our fellow man. It relates back to the love Jesus showed when washing the disciples feet. A selfless, other-centered love. A feeling that isn't taking into consideration how I feel, but how others feel, and how my actions can benefit them.
It's so simple, yet far from easy. Carefully observe your actions today. With this definition in mind, are they truly loving?
Thursday, July 20, 2017
Little Children
1 John 4:4 "Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world."
I love how John refers to the people reading his letter as little children prior to informing them that they have overcome, or gotten the victory. There are few times you actually see little children doing much in the way of productive fighting, and ever fewer times do you actually see them achieve a victory over a true foe. And that is exactly the point John is making here.
Little children do not win victories in battle against real enemies. John is driving home the fact that these Christian's accomplishment came from one Source, and one Source alone. The One living within them, is greater than the one living in the world. He was the reason for their victory. Nothing else. And certainly nothing that they, as little children, could have done.
Jesus told His disciples long ago that "...Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 18:3) This still remains true. And unless we get the proper perspective, neither will we overcome if we believe we have the power to do so outside of He that is in us.
Do I view myself as a little child? Am I bold in the fight because of Who is in me?
I love how John refers to the people reading his letter as little children prior to informing them that they have overcome, or gotten the victory. There are few times you actually see little children doing much in the way of productive fighting, and ever fewer times do you actually see them achieve a victory over a true foe. And that is exactly the point John is making here.
Little children do not win victories in battle against real enemies. John is driving home the fact that these Christian's accomplishment came from one Source, and one Source alone. The One living within them, is greater than the one living in the world. He was the reason for their victory. Nothing else. And certainly nothing that they, as little children, could have done.
Jesus told His disciples long ago that "...Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 18:3) This still remains true. And unless we get the proper perspective, neither will we overcome if we believe we have the power to do so outside of He that is in us.
Do I view myself as a little child? Am I bold in the fight because of Who is in me?
Wednesday, July 19, 2017
He Abideth In Us
1 John 3:24 "And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us."
Of all the miracles of salvation, one of the most marvelous has to be the fact that the Holy Spirit of God has come to abide in us. To abide means to be continually present. Emmanuel, God truly is with us.
Part of John's point here is that if the Spirit of God truly is in us, we cannot be the same as we were before. There should be a line of demarcation, our life before the Holy Spirit of God lived in us and our life after. These two should not, cannot look the same.
Think of the impact God's presence has throughout the Bible. The smoke filling the temple, a glimpse of His back making Moses' face shine so he had to wear a veil. Exodus 33:20 "...Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live." God's presence is the essence of power.
Where is my line of demarcation? Is there a clear difference between my life prior to the Holy Spirit's indwelling and my life after?
Of all the miracles of salvation, one of the most marvelous has to be the fact that the Holy Spirit of God has come to abide in us. To abide means to be continually present. Emmanuel, God truly is with us.
Part of John's point here is that if the Spirit of God truly is in us, we cannot be the same as we were before. There should be a line of demarcation, our life before the Holy Spirit of God lived in us and our life after. These two should not, cannot look the same.
Think of the impact God's presence has throughout the Bible. The smoke filling the temple, a glimpse of His back making Moses' face shine so he had to wear a veil. Exodus 33:20 "...Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live." God's presence is the essence of power.
Where is my line of demarcation? Is there a clear difference between my life prior to the Holy Spirit's indwelling and my life after?
Tuesday, July 18, 2017
In Deed and In Truth
1 John 3:18 "My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth."
When it comes to doing good, words cost us nothing. Giving someone a word of encouragement does not cost us a thing. After a kind word, we are not lacking anything. Indeed, we most likely have profited from the exchange for now we ourselves feel a sense of accomplishment and happiness knowing we have benefited someone else.
We know that John is not telling us to never speak in an edifying manner to our fellow man. Rather he is telling us to never let our love stop with words. But let those words spur us on to tangible action.
Love in a tangible form will, no doubt, cost a bit more of ourselves or our resources. This should not scare us off, but rather inspire us. For we know that all we have comes from the Source of all that is good. He has promised to provide for our needs, just as He does for the birds and the lilies.
With all of this in mind, how freely do I give? Does my love stop with kind words? Or do I let God's generosity move me on to loving in deed?
When it comes to doing good, words cost us nothing. Giving someone a word of encouragement does not cost us a thing. After a kind word, we are not lacking anything. Indeed, we most likely have profited from the exchange for now we ourselves feel a sense of accomplishment and happiness knowing we have benefited someone else.
We know that John is not telling us to never speak in an edifying manner to our fellow man. Rather he is telling us to never let our love stop with words. But let those words spur us on to tangible action.
Love in a tangible form will, no doubt, cost a bit more of ourselves or our resources. This should not scare us off, but rather inspire us. For we know that all we have comes from the Source of all that is good. He has promised to provide for our needs, just as He does for the birds and the lilies.
With all of this in mind, how freely do I give? Does my love stop with kind words? Or do I let God's generosity move me on to loving in deed?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)