Love

 1 John 4:16 ESV

 So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 


How do we know that God is love, and that he loves us? Because he sent his Son Jesus who is love personified. He gave his life for us, to enable us to abide in love and in himself.

If we claim to abide in God but don't abide in love, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we find ourselves to be unloving at times, we can cry out to God our Judge to forgive us, through Christ our Advocate. He won't condemn us if we come to him in sincere faith, which is itself a gift from him.

Amazingly, we can know God abiding with us. The Holy Spirit can set up residence in our hearts. It's all through faith in Christ crucified on our behalf. 

Having believed in the love of God as manifested in Jesus, we are to follow in his footsteps. We are to live lives defined by love. By his Holy Spirit we can do this.

'Loving Father God, please help us to love you in return for your great love for us, and so to abide with you forevermore. In Jesus' name, amen'.


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