1 John 4:16
We have experienced and we have entrusted our lives to the love of God in us. God is love. Anyone who lives faithfully in love also lives faithfully in God, and God lives in him.
The word love shows up all over the place in scripture. It can be difficult to understand the fullness of love because in English we have only one word that encompasses a lot of definitions and a lot of feelings. We equate love most often with an emotion. You feel love toward someone or something. It is fulfilling or satisfying something in you. Here in 1 John, we are told flat out, no minced words, “God is love.” Period. End of sentence. God and Jesus are the full embodiment of love. If they are the full embodiment of love than we know love goes beyond just an emotion and feelings. Love is a way of life, a practice. In the Gospel of John, Jesus gives another command, “Love each other deeply and fully. Remember the ways that I have loved you, and demonstrate your love for others in those same ways. Everyone will know you as My followers if you demonstrate your love to others.” The way we live in love is not only important to our relationship with God, but our relationships to others as well. A few verses later, John says, “Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear”. Does this mean we’ll never be afraid again? No. we will. But when we live in the Love of God we can be certain that peace is there too. Living in the love of God and the peace of him gives us space to love those around us well.
Lectio Divina Practice
As you walk through the Lectio Divina today, read the scripture above and meditate on it, allowing the Holy Spirit to reveal himself to you.
Family Moments
Read 1 John 4:16 together. Talk about how love is not just an emotion we feel, but love is also expressed as actions. God doesn’t just feel love towards us—he actively loves us and is working all things for our good if we trust in Him. How have you have seen God working lately? Has He answered a prayer, provided comfort, or brought healing?