92 GOD IS LOVE F O O T ================================
- H O L D
READING
92 GOD IS LOVE
PRAY Thank God for his overwhelming love and ask for grace to be open to new teaching. —————————————————————- READ 1 John 4:7-21. —————————————————————- THINK Write down a couple of things that this chapter teaches about God’s love and about our love. —————————————————————- FOCUS John has been helping his readers to be alert to false teachers. Unfortunately it is easy for us to have a judgemental witch-hunt outlook. John is not keen to see suspicion develop between believers. Their relationships should be marked by mutual love. If not, no matter how firm their grip on orthodox doctrine, they have failed to grasp the practical MEANING of the Gospel. God is love: we must be careful not to sentimentalise this phrase. Few words have been devalued as love in the twentieth century. Love is a true description of God. But it is not the only description. He possesses other attributes too. This is why John can speak of judgement in the same breath as he speaks of love without feeling any contradiction. The mention of judgement may arouse fear. It shouldn’t for Christians. God’s love for us and our response in love leave no room for fear (18). When a child arrives home from school, she knocks on the front door in total confidence that she will be admitted. She would not feel so secure knocking on any other door. In the same way, John tells us love can eliminate anxiety even before the gates of heaven. The vital issue is our relationship with the One inside. —————————————————————- PRAY Pray that previous wounds will not hinder you from being open- hearted and loving. Pray especially for someone you know who may need your love and God’s love today.