GOD IS LOVE Devotion 16 of 34 Other versions read, "God abides in us" (NKJV), "God lives in us" (NIV), "God is in us" (BBE), and "God remains in us" (NAB). Is this not a remarkable statement? And are there not precious few bold enough to affirm it? Yet, it is the truth, and the people of God need to hear it. This is a glad sound to those who have a profound love for the people of God. Only those who have no genuine love for the people of God find this affirmation difficult to accept. However, it stands as it is written, and will be one of the criteria by which men will be evaluated on the day of judgment. – Tomorrow:
"He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love . . . God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him." (1 John 4:8,16)
"If we love one another, God dwelleth in us . . . " (1 John 4:12)
There is a tone of permanence in this language. The word "abides" or "lives" means to take up residency. God is identified with the one described – the person who loves His people – in a unique way. Jesus spoke of the one in whom God and Himself would take up residence. "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him, and make Our abode with him" (John 14:23, NASB). One of the precious promises of God relates to Him dwelling in His people. "As God has said: "I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people" (2 Cor 6:16). The indwelling is both individual ("dwell IN them") and collective ("walk AMONG them"). This indwelling, however, is not unrelated to the morality of the people – particularly their affection. Jesus said it was contingent upon the individual loving Him and keeping His Word. Paul said it depended on coming out of the society of the cursed, and touching not the unclean thing (2 Cor 6:17-18). Now our text takes the matter even further, connecting it to a personal love for "one another" in Christ Jesus.
And what will be the certain evidence of this marvelous indwelling? It is the love of the brethren – or a holy preference for, and desire to benefit, the children of God! The Lord is at home in such a person, and the love of the brethren confirms that is the case.
However, God does not abide in the person BECAUSE he loves the brethren. Rather, such love is the result of His abiding. It reveals that God does, in fact, reside in that person. When Jesus spoke of the Father and Himself taking up Their abode in the individual, He said it was the result of that person loving Him and keeping His Word. When Paul spoke of God dwelling in and walking in His people, He said it was because they came out from among the unaccepted, and touched not the unclean thing. But this is not the reasoning put forth in this text. Here the person who dwells in love is, in fact, the one who is dwelling in God; and the one who is dwelling in God is the one in whom God dwells. The love of the brethren is, then, a sign, not a cause.
A cold and stereotyped theology might affirm that God dwells in everyone who makes a profession of faith, or is "a Christian." There is a sense in which that is true, and one in which it is not. If by "Christian" a person means one who is dwelling in love, and dwelling in God, then the statement is certainly true. The Spirit, however, does not cast us upon the flimsy foundation of empty profession, or institutional affiliation. If we are to have confidence and assurance, there must be some evidence that our profession is genuine, and is honored by God. After all, Jesus did remind us of some who will, in the last day, point to their own religious activity only to hear the Savior say, "I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity" (Matt 7:23).
There must be something substantial in your life that clearly testifies of the presence of God within you. That evidence is loving "one another" – having an attraction to, preference for, desire to be with, and earnest care for, the children of God. Those who do not care to be around the people of God do not have this love. Those who do not seek their good also lack this love. The person who does not care to profit from the various ministries and helps of the brethren is also without this love.
The Holy Spirit lives within the brethren of Jesus, and intercedes for them (Rom 8:26). The Lord Jesus "ever liveth to make intercession for them" (Heb 7:25). All of the holy angels regularly minister to them, attending to their needs as they have been appointed (Heb 1:13-14). The Father in heaven has His eye upon them, and His ear is open to their prayers (1 Pet 3:12). How could any person who has no fundamental interest in these people, and desire to be with them, be in fellowship with God? The answer is that such a thing is not possible. God dwells in the person who loves His people. Those who lack this love have no evidence of affiliation with the Lord.
Among other things, we learn here that the presence of God is essential if His people are to be loved. Further, there is no option on this matter. No one can refuse to love the brethren, yet remain identified with God. Such only reveal they are of the wicked one, even as Cain. As it is written, "For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous" (1 John 3:12). Those who despise, or hate, the people of God are of the world, not of God. Now, the question is, Where do you stand?
PRAYER POINT: Father, I want the evidence of Your presence within me. Grant me to love Your people with a pure heart fervently.