Three Benefits of the God Kind of Love

Monday, October 19, 2009 Bryan Hudson 0 Comments

1 John 4:16-17 “God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. 17 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.

In this text, I see three benefits of the God kind of love:

The first benefit: The God kind of love embodies the nature and character of God. When you have that love, it is because you have God in you. It is the kind of love that is always attached to the presence of God.

The second benefit: The God kind of love can grow and mature, or become perfected in us. Many things in life cannot grow and develop because there’s no life, personality or greater spiritual reality attached to those things. Because God is love and we abide in love and God abides in us, we are provided great opportunities for growth and development.

The third benefit: The God kind of love that gives us boldness. Boldness is not the same as arrogance. Arrogance is confidence in one’s self. Boldness is confidence in God. The greatest test of boldness comes in times judgment. Judgment is not mainly severe punishment from God. Judgment is God’s examination of the thoughts, intents, and behaviors of people. God’s judgment in this dispensation provides us an opportunity for adjustment and correction.

1 John 4:17 says, “As he is so are we in this world.” Think about that statement. Nearly 100% of our problems, bad perceptions, and bad outlook come from the fact that we do not see ourselves the way that God sees us in Christ.

Sometimes, We are so focused on "as the world is, so are we in the world," that are losing sight of, "as Jesus is, so are we in this world."

Live in the greater reality of God's love and provision.

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