Ever wonder why God seems to repeat Himself a lot in the Bible? I mean, there are some themes that run through His word over and over and over again. Themes are even repeated in some books of the Bible. I’m quite sure that He repeats Himself because we are hard-of-hearing…or maybe because we are hard-hearted. 1 John is one of those books that repeats a theme, and the theme is love.
No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us. 1 John 4:12 (NLT)
Loving others is proof that God lives in me. In a sense, my love for others is a good measuring stick for how much I have allowed God to live and work in my heart. That is a theme that wanders all through 1 John.
But there is another truth here that is magnificent, humbling and (honestly) scary. That truth is that God’s love, His perfect, immeasurable love is brought to full expression in us. The NIV says that His love “is made complete in us”. The NASB says that His love “is perfected in us”.
Earlier, 1 John 4:8 says that God IS love. It is not only true that God loves, He is love. And so the very essence of God is to be perfectly completed in us. Let me say it again: the very essence of God is to be perfectly completed in us! God’s love is to work in us and be fully expressed in us! That is truly, truly remarkable!
But what does it look like? How can we recognize the love of God at work in us? Here are some thoughts from 1 John on what God’s love looks like:
- God’s love is expressed (1 John 4:9).
- God’s love is sacrificial (1 John 4:10).
- God’s love is trustworthy (1 John 4:16).
- God’s love drives away fear (1 John 4:18).
- God’s love initiates (1 John 4:19).
May the love of God be fully expressed in us today! May the love of God be expressed through us in a sacrificial, trustworthy, fearless way today. May we initiate with others with the love of God!
