Scripture:
1 John 4:13-21
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.
Reflection:
- God is a God of love. If the Holy Spirit resides in us, our spirit will be filled with love. Fear will have no place in our body because the love of God fills us.
- If we love God, we will no longer fear him. We fear God because we are scared of what will happen during judgment day, but if we acknowledge that Jesus is His son, we have nothing to fear, for we already belong to God. God first loved us. Fear does not come from God.
- If love is in our hearts, it will not be hard to follow God's command to love our brothers and sisters.
Application:
- Many people say there is nothing perfect in this world. But there is, and that is God's perfect love. This is the kind of love that I hope to give to my brothers and sisters in Christ, to others who are not yet in Christ, and to my enemies. It is God's command, and by doing this, I can show to others that God is a God of love, since I am manifesting this love in the way I live my life.
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