Today we continue our series entitled, “God Loves You”, under the overall theme for the year of, “Supernatural Manifestation.” I was teaching on 1 John 4:16 and 17 before I went on vacation. Let’s go back to it today, as we continue to flow in this vein.
The Apostle John said:
And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
(1 John 4:16, 17 KJV)
So what does this mean to you today? A few things.
1. When you accept God’s love, your life becomes all about Him!
a) John, the Apostle of love, in his 90s, after having meditated on God’s love for decades, reveals the true identity of God. John tells us that love is not something God has or something God does. Love is WHO God is!
b) God may be “like” many things, but there are only two things the Bible says God actually is. Both are revealed by the Apostle John. John tells us that God is light. In Him there is no darkness at all. John also tells us that God is love. In God there is no selfishness at all.
c) When you finally open your heart to the true nature of God’s love, and He begins to reveal all that He has called you to do — not because you deserve it, but only because He loves you — it is then and only then, that you are in position to walk in God’s best. God’s best has nothing to do with your performance. You are not performing for it. You are not earning it. You are not working to deserve it. You are simply receiving it all as a gift; a gift given to you by a God who loves you unconditionally. The day you get to this point will be the day your life becomes ALL ABOUT HIM!
2. Love frees you to embrace all that Jesus is.
a) Getting a revelation of God’s love is critical, because you will never fully embrace all that God made you to be, in Christ Jesus, until you are convinced He loves you!
b) John teaches us that we can stand boldly before God on the Day of Judgment. Our boldness does not come from our performance. Our boldness does not come from our merit. Our boldness does not come from anything we did. Our boldness comes solely from Jesus. We are IN Him and He is IN us. This is the only way we can stand before God on the Day of Judgment.
c) Fully embracing ALL that Jesus is, is not easy. It is counterintuitive. It is contrary to human logic. It is hard for our mind to accept the fact that everything Jesus is can simply be attributed to us. When we believe God, when we put our faith in Jesus, all that Jesus did is actually “imputed” to us as righteousness. It’s not that we are righteous in and of ourselves. But being IN Christ means that all that He is, is actually imputed (or credited/assigned) to us. The human heart has a hard time accepting this gift, because it is so good. This is where the love of God comes in. When you fully embrace God’s love, you open your heart to receive all that Jesus is. Not because you are so good, but because God is.
d) God is so good that when you stand before Him, He sees His Son. You don’t deserve it, but God treats you the same way He treats Jesus. He loves you with the same love He gave His only begotten Son. When Jesus walked the earth He was the only begotten of the Father. But once He died, He became a seed that was sown into the earth. This seed has produced a harvest. You and I are part of that harvest. Jesus is no longer the only Son. Now He is the firstborn of many, many brethren! He is now one of many and you are I are in that number. Why did God do this? Why is God so good to us? The answer is simply: because He loves us.
Closing Confession: Father, this is a year of Great Victory for me. I can say this boldness and confidence, because my confidence is NOT in me. My confidence is in YOU. My faith is rooted and grounded in the unconditional and unending love You have for me. You love me without measure. You love me the same as You love Your own Son, Jesus. When You look at me, You see Jesus. When I stand before You, I am hidden in Christ. When I enter each day in this world, Christ is revealed in me. My life is all about You! I am convinced that You will complete what You started in my life. You will use me for Your glory. You will change the world through me. Not because I am so good, but because You are. So I enter this day as a world-changer, challenge-overcomer and a problem-solver; not in my strength, but only in Yours! As Jesus is, so am I, in this world! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
