HEAVENLY LOVE
Opening Prayer
Your Word is truth, Father. Help me to take in what it says and embrace it—even when what it tells me is far too wonderful for me to comprehend.
Read 1 JOHN 4:13–21
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
13 This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. 16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.
God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. 17 This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. 18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
19 We love because he first loved us. 20 Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. 21 And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
Think of some human relationships that feel safe and secure to you. Thank God for them! Why are some relationships laced with fear?Remember, John wrote to a group of true believers rocked by the departure of a group from their church. That other group spoke critically of them and celebrated their own supposedly superior spirituality. John wrote to reassure the faithful believers that they were not missing out on God’s great work in the world. Their reassurance was that God had given them his Holy Spirit (v. 13), which was evident because they loved one another (v. 16).
As we saw yesterday, Christian love is not something we can work up in ourselves. It is a response to God first loving us (v. 19). And genuine love for God and one another is such a miracle in this fallen world that it can give us a confidence that is beyond this world (v. 17). Many relationships are tainted by fear, but there is an alternative (v. 18). The miracle of Christian love is that it gives us the confidence to stand before God. Why? Because this love is not about our efforts. It is the love of God at work in us. As the Spirit enables you to worship Christ, fellowship with God is the real deal (v. 16).
Apply
Are there things you find difficult to love about yourself that stand in the way of completely receiving God’s great love for you?
Closing prayer
Gracious Father, thank you for your unconditional love that is beyond measure. Use it to drive out of me anything that would make me fearful about standing before you.
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