Lessons on Love from 1 John 4:16- Lesson 1

And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. 1 John 4:16 NKJV

In 2006, God asked me to meditate on this verse for one hour per day.  His promise was that if I did, He would teach me lessons on love.  I’ve shared all of these before publicly, but He is prompting me to do so again now.  As you read these journal entries, may He speak to your heart and teach you His ways of love.

As I sat with Him that first morning and meditated (repeated this scripture out loud over and over, thinking about it as I heard it), God began to speak to me:

“There is a dividing wall between your soul and spirit.  Just as I tore down the dividing wall between Jew and Gentile (Ephesians 2:14-16), I will tear down this wall in you so that My love will flood every part.”

“I cherish you.  I cherish you.”

Lord, why do I feel Your love more after times of deep repentance?

“Because you let your pride down and let My love in.”

How does pride get in the way Lord?

“It holds you captive to false belief that you need to prove yourself worthy of love to Me and to others.  You say in your heart, ‘Watch this, and see what I can do.  I will win You/you over with my performance.’”

“In repentance you realize that all your efforts are self-exaltation and self-righteousness born out of fear.  In repentance, you are humbled by your sin.  Only then do you see I’ve been there all the time, ready to accept you with unconditional love.”

1 John 4:15 personalized: “I have known and believed the love God has for me.  God is love, and if I abide in love, I abide in God and God in me.” 

Take time to meditate on this verse and see what He would say to you.  May you find yourself LOVED today.