Verse of the Day 10/18

 

 

1 John 4:19   We love because He first loved us.   Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

 

Yesterday  we  considered how  Paul  prayed for  the  Colossian  church  and  for  us that we would have the  strength to "stick it  out".  A big  part of that is learning, being able  to  deal with  others, even, perhaps especially in combative situations.  Pastor  Ben in  his  message  Sunday reminded us of James and Johns reaction to opposition when they asked Jesus  "Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?"  (Luke 9:54)

 

Early on in their ministry of  serving  Jesus they were perhaps the first "fire and brimstone evangelists".   They wanted to call  down God's  judgement.  Jesus  had another way of  doing things in mind.  Today's verse from  later in John's life, shows us  what  he had  learned from  serving with Jesus.  We are to love. 

 

Augustine  wrote "trust Him with  all things, all  the  time".  You've probably heard  it  said "God is good, all  the  time, all the time  God is good."  That  trusting "all the time" will allow  for His  timing  to work things out.  Paul is probably the greatest example  for that.  I sure  that  some of Christ's  followers  would have loved  to bring down judgement  on  Paul for his persecution  of the  church, but God had other plans  for  him.

 

What trying relationship are you  dealing  with today, possibly where  you'd  like to call  for  God's judgment to come  down?  We could easily have had God's  judgment called down  on us, but He  chose to love us.  What today's passage challenges us to do  is  to love, act in love first and let God  deal  with the  rest of  it.  Let love "take  up  permanent residence in us".

 

"When we take up permanent residence in a life of love, we live in God and God lives in us."  …..19 We, though, are going to love—love and be loved. First we were loved, now we love. He loved us first."  The  Message

 

The Message

 

Blessings,

 

Mike

 

1 John 4:17-19The Message (MSG)

 

To Love, to Be Loved

17-18 God is love. When we take up permanent residence in a life of love, we live in God and God lives in us. This way, love has the run of the house, becomes at home and mature in us, so that we're free of worry on Judgment Day—our standing in the world is identical with Christ's. There is no room in love for fear. Well-formed love banishes fear. Since fear is crippling, a fearful life—fear of death, fear of judgment—is one not yet fully formed in love.

 

19 We, though, are going to love—love and be loved. First we were loved, now we love. He loved us first.

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