Good morning, my brothers and sisters in Christ. I'm finishing my finals this week at Bushnell University; it has been a journey so far. With some last-minute studying and two more finals left, I decided this morning to do a quick write-up, and I am still planning on my evening video digging deeper into the Book of Acts this evening, Acts 18.
1 John 4:12-16
No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. 13 By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.
John gives us a fourfold answer to know whether or not God lives in us or not. (1): “If we love one another” (v. 12); (2): “If we have been given His Spirit” (v. 13); (3): “If we confess Jesus is the Son of God” (v. 15); and (4): “If we abide in the love of God (v. 16).”
We see God through love, and this is how we can continue to love one another. How can we love others if we don't love God or even ourselves? Love is not an individualistic idea; instead, it's a collective and more communal way of expression. If God’s love is unconditional to us and universal, then how come so many fail to realize how important love is to one another? My final thought is this: How come so many expect love and forgiveness from God but somehow believe they have the power to withhold love and forgiveness from others who have wronged them? Seeing God through love should allow us to see others through love, and most people fail to realize that forgiveness is for you and you alone. It helps with your spiritual growth and maturity; forgiveness is an act of love and accountability we can only account for ourselves.
In Christ, love Jared W Campbell