1 John 4:16 … To abide in GOD (06/17/17)
“God is Love, and those who abide in Love abide in God,
and God abides in them.” ~ unknown (1 John 4:16)
First & foremost, note that “Love” in this verse is the Greek “agape,” a word that means neither emotional need nor philosophical romance nor sexual desire nor psychological partnership, but rather a word that meant active Caring (see Strong’s #26); the kind of Love that Jesus considered to be “perfect” (Matthew 5:48) – the kind of Love that was more thought than emotion & more word than thought & more deed than word – the kind of Love that is only reborn into Being during acts of courageously humble self-sacrifice (Matthew 16:24) – the kind of Love that comes alive when caring for downtrodden strangers (Matthew 25:35-40) – and the kind of Love that treats enemies (Matthew 5:43-48) as if they were long-lost Friends.
Just as importantly, note that “abide(s)” in this verse is the Greek word “menei,” a word that means “to consistently remain” or “to persistently fulfill” (see Strong’s #3306).
And finally, please note that God is always within us (John 14:20) – and yet that He only abides in us fully when we act accordingly; only when we act as direct agents of his unconditional Love (John 14:23) … Love that is courageous — and Love that is humble — and Love that is a verb.
Indeed, perfect Love is either all of these things,
… or LOVE is nothing at all.
Amen … Let LOVE be so.
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