Today’s Theme for Prayer – Jesus Desires to Save Me
How Do I Allow Jesus to Act Freely in Me?
The Intimacy of God’s Love
I John 4:13-21
This is how we know that we remain in him and he in us, that he has given us of his Spirit. Moreover, we have seen and testify that the Father sent his Son as savior of the world. Whoever acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God remains in him and he in God. We have come to know and to believe in the love God has for us. God is love, and whoever remains in love remains in God and God in him. In this is love brought to perfection among us, that we have confidence on the day of judgment because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear because fear has to do with punishment, and so one who fears is not yet perfect in love. We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, “I love God,” but hates his brother, he is a liar; for whoever does not love a brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. This is the commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.
Grace Prayed For
A deeper awareness of God’s indwelling presence: Pray for a heightened sensitivity to the Holy Spirit within you, guiding and comforting you. Ask for the grace to recognize God’s presence in the quiet moments of your day, in the beauty of creation, and in the interactions you have with others.
Reflection
This passage from 1 John speaks of an incredibly intimate and profound truth: that we can be united with God. It’s not a union in some abstract, distant sense, but a real, abiding presence of God within us.
John tells us, “This is how we know that we remain in him and he in us, that he has given us of his Spirit.” The Holy Spirit, the very essence of God, dwells within us. Imagine that – the God who created the universe, the God who spoke the stars into being, chooses to reside in our hearts.
This union is further emphasized when John says, “Whoever acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God remains in him and he in God.” Our confession of faith, our belief in Jesus as the Son of God, opens the door for this divine indwelling. It’s a beautiful exchange – we acknowledge Jesus, and God comes to live within us.
But what does this union mean for our daily lives? John explains, “We have come to know and to believe in the love God has for us. God is love, and whoever remains in love remains in God and God in him.”
This is where the intimacy deepens. God isn’t just present within us; He’s present as love. His love permeates our being, transforming us from the inside out. And as we remain in this love, as we allow it to shape our thoughts, words, and actions, we remain in God.
This love also casts out fear. “There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear because fear has to do with punishment, and so one who fears is not yet perfect in love.” When we truly grasp the depth of God’s love for us, when we experience the security of His presence within us, fear loses its grip. We no longer live in fear of judgment or punishment, but in the confident assurance of His love.
Finally, John reminds us that this love is not meant to be contained. “We love because he first loved us.” God’s love overflows from us, compelling us to love others. “If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ but hates his brother, he is a liar; for whoever does not love a brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.”
Our love for God is inextricably linked to our love for others. In fact, it’s the litmus test of our love for God. If we claim to love God but harbor hatred or indifference towards others, our claim is hollow. True love for God manifests itself in love for our fellow human beings.
This passage invites us into a deeper relationship with God, a relationship characterized by intimacy, love, and confident assurance. It challenges us to let go of fear and embrace the transformative power of His love. And it reminds us that this love is not meant to be kept to ourselves, but to be shared with the world around us.
Growing in Intimacy/Union with Jesus
“God is love, and whoever remains in love remains in God and God in him.” Love is the very essence of God, and remaining in love means remaining in God. This calls us to actively cultivate love in our lives – love for God and love for others. As we grow in love, we grow in our union with Jesus. Practically, this means choosing forgiveness over resentment, kindness over judgment, and generosity over selfishness.
When Time Allows Reflect on the Posts in Library and Musings
Sharing
Jesus last words on Earth were to his disciples, can be found in Matthew Chap 28 when Jesus told his disciples, “Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”
Jesus calls all of us to share in his redemptive mission here on Earth. I would ask you to share this Scripture reflection with your family, your friends and your acquaintances, and then share it with a couple of individuals that you may may not be comfortable sharing with, keeping in mind always the words of Jesus, And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age
Author was assisted by AI in the drafting of this Post