Verse of the Day 7/20

Verse of the Day 7/20

1 John 4:15-16

English Standard Version

15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.

Our Tuesday Men's Bible study group reviewed this chapter this week.  The Apostle John is well known for his description and explanation of God's love for us. Perhaps the most well known verse of the Bible comes from his pen, John 3:16 "for God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son." Today's verses are also well known for his statement "God is love".  What a great statement and description of God the Father.

But what I'd like to focus on today comes from verse 16, a simple statement that is perhaps, easily overlooked. He writes, "We have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us."  What does that statement mean to you?

It is one thing to know a set of facts. It is quite another to place your faith and trust in the basis of those "facts" and to live your life by them for them and through the sustaining power and grace of the Holy Spirit, Christ in us.  The "abiding" spoken of here is just that.  It is more than simple acknowledgement, it is living, breathing, praying, studying, memorizing, testifying, and proclaiming all that He has done for us.

My prayer for you today is that you have "come to know and believe the love that God has for you."

1. May the mind of Christ, my Savior,
   Live in me from day to day,
   By His love and pow'r controlling
   All I do and say.
2. May the Word of God dwell richly
   In my heart from hour to hour,
   So that all may see I triumph
   Only through His pow'r.
3. May the peace of God my Father
   Rule my life in everything,
   That I may be calm to comfort
   Sick and sorrowing.
4. May the love of Jesus fill me
   As the waters fill the sea;
   Him exalting, self abasing,
   This is victory.
5. May I run the race before me,
   Strong and brave to face the foe,
   Looking only unto Jesus
   As I onward go.

Blessings,

Mike

Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com

Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace.  NIV

1 John 4:13-21

English Standard Version

13 By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because 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 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 17 By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. 19 We love because he first loved us. 20 If anyone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does n ot love his brother whom he has seen cannotlove God whom he has not seen. 21 And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.