He That Dwelleth in Love Dwelleth in God, and God in Him


From the beginning, Jesus' message has been that we should love one another (1John 3:11). Developing a loving heart by following His example is a sure way we can know that we are on the path that will lead us to becoming as He is. 

As a fallen people, loving others can be hard. But as we seek to follow His example, with His help, we can open our hearts and be filled with His love, the pure love of Christ. 

In 1 John chapters 3 and 4, we discover what His love looks like. 

  • 1 John 3:16 - to really love, we ought to be willing to lay down our lives for another. This can include setting aside our wants and needs for the good of another.
  • 1 John 3:18 - love isn't just about the words we say, but how we show our love. For love to be truly felt, it must be backed up by action. 
  • 1 John 4:7-8 - "Love is of God" "for God is love." We are from God, so we can be assured that we were made to love.
  • 1 John 4:9 - God loved us so much that He sent His son to us, "that we might live through Him." As we show appreciation for the loving gift of God's Son through the way we choose to live our lives, others will see Jesus in us and be able to feel of His love for them.
  • 1 John 4:12 (see also vs. 16) - "God dwelleth in us" through the gift of the Holy Ghost. As we come to learn to recognize and act on promptings of the spirit, we will be led to love others in unique ways that will help them to feel God's love for them. 
  • 1 John 4:19 - God loved us first, which is evident is His divine plan. Just as He loved us first, we can choose to love others regardless of what we know or don't know about them.
To love God, is to love His Children. And to love His Children is to see His face. (see Les Miserables by Victor Hugo).

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