“No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.” 1 John 4:12 NIV
At first glance, verse 12 seems out of context. John has been discussing God’s love for us and our love for one another. Then, somewhat abruptly, he states, “No one has ever seen God.” You wonder, “Why did he throw that in here? What does God’s invisibility have to do with a discussion of love”? The same words occur in the prologue to John’s gospel (John 1:18): “No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.” But here, John continues, “if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us.” What does he mean? He means that the unseen God, who was historically revealed in the incarnation of the Son, is now revealed by the indwelling presence of His Holy Spirit in His people when they love one another. It is an amazing thought! People do not see God and they may not read the Bible, but they do see and read the lives of Christians. They read our Christian home. They read the church where we worship. They read us as we interact with others at work or on the sports field. If they see a remarkable, other-worldly love in those places, especially if they see love when they would expect retaliation, they see God abiding in us. If they see anger, bitterness, verbal attacks, and hatred, then we are failing to testify to the love of Jesus in us. A writer named Caecilius (ca. A.D. 210) said of the Christians, “They know one another by secret marks and signs, and they love one another almost before they know one another.”
PRAYER THOUGHT
Lord, let others know You through Your love in our lives.
PRAYER FOR TODAY
By Your Holy Spirit, Lord, let others see Your love when they would expect retaliation, so that they will see You abiding in us, in our everyday living. AMEN
I.B.R.A. Readings
Nahum 1:12-15
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