1 John 4:12-15

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"No one has beheld God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. And we have beheld and bear witness that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God." 1 John 4:12-15


In this passage of scripture we see John coming back to a common theme. If we love Jesus, we will love others. If we abide in God, God abides in us and His love will be seen in the way we love others.

Since none of have actually SEEN God, He is known to us in the ways He is represented to us in our lives. We see evidence of God in His power. We see evidence of God in His popularity. We see evidence of God in passionate feelings. However, probably the strongest evidence we see of God is in His love.

Think about it this way.... there were times when the world saw Jesus as weak and lacking in power. We read of times when Jesus was anything but popular with certain crowds in the Bible. And, many times, Jesus did not inspire passionate feelings in the people with whom he encountered. But the one constant was ALWAYS the love He showed.

We see God's love in our lives daily as Christians. Abiding in God is not just a one-sided deal. When we abide in God, He also abides in us. It's a two-way street. A relationship. When we have this relationship with God we see that it is VERY real. His love is VERY real.

As ones who experience God's love, we should be testifying to the world that we are followers of God. We can do this by proclaiming our trust in God and by sharing His love. We should WANT to share God's love.

As I continue reading thru the book of 1 John there are so many times when I think (and have written here) that if God loves us so very much how can we NOT share his love with the world. And, again today, I am touched with these exact same feelings. When we confess that Jesus is Lord, when we abide with God, when we experience His love in our lives, how can we just sit still and do nothing? If God's love is REAL, how can we be silent?

I'm reminded of these lyrics from a song by Steven Curtis Chapman, "Live Out Loud":

Think about this…try to keep a bird from singing
After it’s soared up in the sky
Give the sun a cloudless day and tell it not to shine
Now think about this…if we really have been given
The gift of a life that will never end
And if we have been filled with living hope we’re gonna overflow
And if God’s love is burning in our hearts we’re gonna glow
There’s just no way to keep it in

Do you overflow with God's living hope? Does your heart burn with God's love? Do you find that there is just no way to keep it inside?



5 Thoughts Shared:

Denise said...

Thank you for glowing with Gods love sweetie.

Tricia said...

Hey Melanie! I can definitely say that even though I have never seen you in person, I can tell through your words that you glow quite brightly with the love of God!

I echo your prayer for myself, that I too would glow brightly with God's love and share His love with everyone I meet. Have a wonderful day!

Blessings!

Joan said...

Amen, Sister, Amen.

We should all be spreading the love.

Have a great day!

Nancie said...

Thanks for this beautiful post, Melanie. I am always touched by the love of God through His Words and His people.

It is amazing how God loves us so much even though we are so unlovely and tainted with sins. Whenever I think of our Lord's suffering on the cross for us to redeem us because of His love for us, my heart is moved to love Him and His people. It is my prayer too that God will fill my heart with His love and enable me to share His love with others.

Thanks for all your love, prayers and encouragements. You are one of those precious ones whom God sent to me in my time of need. Thanks for all your prayers and kind comments on my posts. They mean a lot to me. I thank God upon every remembrance of you.

Take care, dear friend. May God grant you a blessed week in and through Him.

sharon brobst said...

So thougth provoking! I often ask myself "if I REALLY loved God wouldn't I want to share it more? Wouldn't I want to shout it out?" There are days I suppose I do, may prayer is that it's a way of life...always.