Love. I truly believe that this is what the disciples were missing; they didn't understand God's love! I John 4:18 says, "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love." If "perfect love" casteth out fear, then what is perfect love? Is it us loving God perfectly? No, because I John 4:10 says, "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins."
What, then, is "perfect love"? The answer is found in I John 4:16-17, which says, "And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world." Verse 17 starts out by saying, "Herein is our love made perfect," thus referencing what has just been said in verse 16. What does verse 16 say is the way to have "perfect love"? It gives us three keys-
#1. We must KNOW God's love. Think about it- no one ever experienced God's love without first KNOWING that it existed! That may sound elementary, but it's true. We can't be made perfect in God's love without first knowing that it exists.
#2. We must BELIEVE God's love. Acts 16:31 says, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." No one can get saved without BELIEVING on Jesus Christ. And why do we believe on Him for Salvation? Because of the love that He poured out on Calvary! If a person doesn't BELIEVE that Jesus loves them, then why would they trust Him for Salvation?
#3. We must DWELL in God's love. I believe that this is where most Christians, including myself, fail. We KNOW about the love of God, we BELIEVE in the love of God, and yet we often fail to DWELL in the love of God. Dwelling in God's love is simply this - a conscious, continuous state of making God’s love our habitation. Dwelling in God’s love is like dwelling in your house- you live there. Dwelling in God's love is accepting the fact that God loves us so much that He has given us everything we need, and that He will take care of us in every situation. Luke 12:6-7 says, “Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.” What is Jesus saying in these verses? Fear not, because God loves you!
Regardless of what we go through, God is in complete control. If you are His child, then he has already promised to work everything out for your good (Romans 8:28). He does ALL things well! Do I fully understand why everything in my life happens the way it does? No, I don't. But when the circumstances of life are beyond my control, I know that I can safely trust the Love of God!
#1. We must KNOW God's love. Think about it- no one ever experienced God's love without first KNOWING that it existed! That may sound elementary, but it's true. We can't be made perfect in God's love without first knowing that it exists.
#2. We must BELIEVE God's love. Acts 16:31 says, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." No one can get saved without BELIEVING on Jesus Christ. And why do we believe on Him for Salvation? Because of the love that He poured out on Calvary! If a person doesn't BELIEVE that Jesus loves them, then why would they trust Him for Salvation?
#3. We must DWELL in God's love. I believe that this is where most Christians, including myself, fail. We KNOW about the love of God, we BELIEVE in the love of God, and yet we often fail to DWELL in the love of God. Dwelling in God's love is simply this - a conscious, continuous state of making God’s love our habitation. Dwelling in God’s love is like dwelling in your house- you live there. Dwelling in God's love is accepting the fact that God loves us so much that He has given us everything we need, and that He will take care of us in every situation. Luke 12:6-7 says, “Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.” What is Jesus saying in these verses? Fear not, because God loves you!
Regardless of what we go through, God is in complete control. If you are His child, then he has already promised to work everything out for your good (Romans 8:28). He does ALL things well! Do I fully understand why everything in my life happens the way it does? No, I don't. But when the circumstances of life are beyond my control, I know that I can safely trust the Love of God!
Could we with ink the ocean fill,
And were the skies of parchment made,
Were every stalk on earth a quill,
And every man a scribe by trade;
To write the love of God above
Would drain the ocean dry;
Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
Though stretched from sky to sky.
Oh, love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure—
The saints’ and angels’ song.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Comments containing hateful or unkind words or profanity will not be posted. You must sign your name to have your comment published.