A God of Love

Assuring Hope
Comfort for Gods People

1 John 4:13-19 (The Message)
 ^13-16This is how we know we're living steadily and deeply in him, and he in us: He's given us life from his life, from his very own Spirit. Also, we've seen for ourselves and continue to state openly that the Father sent his Son as Savior of the world. Everyone who confesses that Jesus is God's Son participates continuously in an intimate relationship with God. We know it so well, we've embraced it heart and soul, this love that comes from God.

To Love, to Be Loved

 ^17-18God is love. When we take up permanent residence in a life of love, we live in God and God lives in us. This way, love has the run of the house, becomes at home and mature in us, so that we're free of worry on Judgment Day—our standing in the world is identical with Christ's. There is no room in love for fear. Well-formed love banishes fear. Since fear is crippling, a fearful life—fear of death, fear of judgment—is one not yet fully formed in love.  ¹⁹We, though, are going to love—love and be loved. First we were loved, now we love. He loved us first.

For Reflection
How grateful we are to be aligned with a god of love.  Look around you.  Who professes an allegiance to a god of retribution, a god of revenge, a god of vindictiveness, a god of hate, a god of jealousy, a god of domination? These gods embrace fear, use fear to coerce others into alignment.  Not our god who stretches his arms out in service to us, who lives inside of us and infuses us in the knowledge of good and evil and transfigures us in His image to reject evil by embracing good.  He loves so that we may love.  How do you love?

Pray
asking God to show you the way to love ourselves and others.  Pray that God will drive fear from our hearts and minds so that we may rely on acts of love.  Pray that we express the love of God and open ourselves to the Spirit of the living God to work His miracles through us.