One day last week, I sat with 1 John 4:12-16 open before me. I have to be honest, I don’t think it has ever read so powerfully as it did that morning. Verse 12 captured my complete attention.
“No one has see God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us.” (NASB)
We know from Scripture no one has seen God at any time. Yet John is telling us something so important, critical in my opinion.
No one can see God and live …
“He can be seen, however, in the lives of those who demonstrate His love to others.”
(from The New American Commentary, Vol. 38, page 182)
But notice the word ‘if’ which I highlighted in the above Scripture. The use of that word ‘if’ means there is the possibility we won’t love one another. But it is the very love we show one another that will be the demonstration of God to those around us.
John goes so far as to say that God’s love is perfected in us – He has equipped us by the indwelling of His Holy Spirit to be capable of loving others with the same love He has shown to us.
Over the last few weeks, I have pointed out the “so that” phrases from the words of John. Are you beginning to think in terms of “so that”; in other words, are you beginning to think in terms of cause and effect?
God’s love and the salvation He imparts to us definitely have a cause and effect on our lives.
In a nutshell:
God has loved us so that we can love others.
There have been seasons when the only thing we could do was pray. When there are no more words left to say, when we leave it all in His hands, and pray those simple words, we can trust Him to do all things well. Linda Stoll offers her wisdom in this post, “For when we wrestle with the hard stuff” HERE. You will surely be encouraged!
Come, sit a spell. Bring your coffee, your posts, and your thoughts. If you link up, kindly visit those who have drawn up a seat around you.
Please Note: The linkup will stay open for 2 weeks due to Thanksgiving. May you all have a blessed Thanksgiving, enjoying family and friends, as you give thanks for all you have received from God, our Father!
