Walking in Love
When we become a Christian, we're told that God is love. Scripture tells us that we're to love one another, for love is of God, and he who does not love does not know God, for God is love. The love that John speaks of comes from the ancient word 'Agape', and is a self-giving love that gives without demanding anything. If we shut our eyes to the needs of others, our love for God is called into question.
The love that's talked about in 1 John 4 not only demonstrates God's presence in our lives, it serves as evidence to the rest of the world that love is how the world is meant to see God. Even though they cannot do so physically, you cannot claim to love God yet hate others. We're not abiding in Christ if we do this. God's perfect love drives out fear, and believers who follow God's example of love have no reason to fear that God will not accept them; His perfect love removes the need of this fear.
Throughout Scripture, we are assured of God's love and reminded that the proof of God's boundless love is that Christ died for us. Sometimes his commands mean that we have to act in a practical way and out of our comfort zone. Looking around us and seeing the needs of others, it’s very easy to look the other way. How many times do we walk down the road, see somebody in need and turn away?
It can't be that hard when he says he loves us; we know it, we believe it but it's all too possible to know the right doctrines, participate in a healthy church, lead others in the loving way and yet remain spiritually cold, dry and detached. We can know that God loves us, that Jesus died for our sins, and that the Spirit lives within us, but these powerful truths often remain intellectual; perhaps you can relate to this?
Love is not the fluffy feeling often depicted in books, TV and greeting cards. Love is an action of our will. If you don't feel this love for God or know God's love, then maybe somebody could pray for you to experience his love. He's very close to those who accept him, he's not far away. Ask- the Bible says we often fail to receive because we don't ask, so if you don't feel that love, ask God very simply and I'm sure he will demonstrate his love to you.
- Sue Whitehouse
The love that's talked about in 1 John 4 not only demonstrates God's presence in our lives, it serves as evidence to the rest of the world that love is how the world is meant to see God. Even though they cannot do so physically, you cannot claim to love God yet hate others. We're not abiding in Christ if we do this. God's perfect love drives out fear, and believers who follow God's example of love have no reason to fear that God will not accept them; His perfect love removes the need of this fear.
Throughout Scripture, we are assured of God's love and reminded that the proof of God's boundless love is that Christ died for us. Sometimes his commands mean that we have to act in a practical way and out of our comfort zone. Looking around us and seeing the needs of others, it’s very easy to look the other way. How many times do we walk down the road, see somebody in need and turn away?
It can't be that hard when he says he loves us; we know it, we believe it but it's all too possible to know the right doctrines, participate in a healthy church, lead others in the loving way and yet remain spiritually cold, dry and detached. We can know that God loves us, that Jesus died for our sins, and that the Spirit lives within us, but these powerful truths often remain intellectual; perhaps you can relate to this?
Love is not the fluffy feeling often depicted in books, TV and greeting cards. Love is an action of our will. If you don't feel this love for God or know God's love, then maybe somebody could pray for you to experience his love. He's very close to those who accept him, he's not far away. Ask- the Bible says we often fail to receive because we don't ask, so if you don't feel that love, ask God very simply and I'm sure he will demonstrate his love to you.
- Sue Whitehouse
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