Wednesday October 02nd, 2024
« We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in His love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them »
15 If we declare that Jesus is the Son of God, we live in union with God and God lives in union with us.
16 And we ourselves know and believe the love which God has for us. God is love, and those who live in love live in union with God and God lives in union with them.
17 Love is made perfect in us in order that we may have courage on the Judgment Day; and we will have it because our life in this world is the same as Christ’s.
18 There is no fear in love; perfect love drives out all fear. So then, love has not been made perfect in anyone who is afraid, because fear has to do with punishment.
19 We love because God first loved us.
20 If we say we love God, but hate others, we are liars. For we cannot love God, whom we have not seen, if we do not love others, whom we have seen.
21 The command that Christ has given us is this: whoever loves God must love others also.
God is love and perfect love can only be experienced in Him 1 John 4:16-17.
No matter how strong human love is, it usually has a hidden agenda and will remain imperfect if it is not established in God.
There is a classic example of two people who loved each other in the Bible: David and Jonathan. In 1 Samuel 18:4NKJV, the Bible says
« And Jonathan took off the robe that was on him and gave it to David, with his armor, even to his sword and his bow and his belt »
Looking closely at the gifts, you would observe that Jonathan gave David practically everything except his shoes.
This is because in Bible times, one way to seal a contract is the giving of shoes, without which everything given can be reclaimed Ruth 4:7.
In those days also, only sons wore shoes; servants were not allowed to.
That is why in Luke 15:11-24 , when the prodigal son returned, the father asked that shoes be put on his feet to show that he had accepted him back as son and not a servant.
Thus, we see that Jonathan was saying to David, in essence, “We are friends, but I am the son. You are only a beloved servant”.
In 1 Samuel 20:13-16 and verse 42, we see that Jonathan entered a covenant with David when it became clear that the latter would be king, extracting a promise from him not to wipe out his family. Later on, he even asked to become David’s assistant 1 Samuel 23:17.
Be careful when people say they love you; it may be because of what they can get from you.
If it so happens that there is nothing to get anymore, then you would know who truly loves you.
- God’s love for us, however, is perfect and unconditional.
He loved us even while we were yet sinners (Romans 5:8).
He sacrificed His only begotten son so you and I can be saved John 3:16.
He alone is worthy of all your trust 1 John 4:16.
Choose the perfect love of God today by surrendering your life to Jesus.
It is only in Him that we have an assurance of boldness on the day of judgement 1 John 4:17 and eternal life Romans 6:23.
Application – God’s love is perfect.
Author – Bishop Enoch Adejare Adeboye; General Overseer of the RCCG
Edited by Naomie Joseph
Soul-restoring, mind-recalibrating Praise and Worship sessions – Evangelist Jemps Benoit ; Minister Paola Médi
Life changing Christian stories : Supernatural Stories
Freely you received, freely you must give (Math 10:8) , kindly share this devotion, and the Lord will bless you for it.
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