Corona Devo 1632

How can we give the love of God to others?  

Friends...we give God's love to others simply by loving them like God does.  But the catch is...we must know God and His merciful love for us in order to love others like He does.  Otherwise, our love is fickle and shallow, and more about us than them.  This is not God's love through us, this is love of ourselves. 

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. (8) Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.  ~I John 4:7-8

~~~

How do we show God's love?  And specifically--how can we today? 

First, we go back to the Source, and emulate it: How did (does) God show love?  His example is our starting point, and ever-marker. 

(9) This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. (10) This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.  ~I John 4:9-10

God allowed His Son to die for us, out of His love for us.  

We show God's love to others by loving them with His love, and by dying to ourselves and loving others in God's ways.  

When we love others in the Lord's true and pure ways, they see God in us.  And when others are led by God to love us authentically...we experience the love of God through them.  The process and symbiosis of this is His love being made complete in us.

(11) Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. (12) No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.  ~I John 4:11-12

~~~

Can we give the love of God?  Are we qualified?  

Is there a degree to earn or a badge to achieve?  Hoops to jump through or boxes to check?  Rituals to perform or chants to mutter?

How can we know?

(13) This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. (14) And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. (15) If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. (16) And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.  

God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. 

(17) This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus.   ~I John 4:13-17

~~~

Brothers and Sisters: Are we like Jesus in this world?

That's the litmus test.  

Are we loving others as He loved others?  Do we have His Spirit?  

No theological degrees necessary.  No badges, boxes, rituals or "hoping".  We are God's the moment we ask Him to be.  And then He gives us His Spirit. (He has given us of his Spirit.  ~I John 4:13).  

Do we have His Spirit?  If we do, then we have and share His love.

In this world we are like Jesus.   ~I John 4:17

He has given us of his Spirit--Let's love like Him today.

Blessings,

sarah

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com

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