F O O T H O L D

READING

92 GOD IS LOVE

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PRAY Thank God for his overwhelming love and ask for grace to be open

to new teaching.

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READ 1 John 4:7-21.

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THINK Write down a couple of things that this chapter teaches about

God's love and about our love.

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FOCUS John has been helping his readers to be alert to false teachers.

Unfortunately it is easy for us to have a judgemental witch-hunt

outlook. John is not keen to see suspicion develop between

believers. Their relationships should be marked by mutual love.

If not, no matter how firm their grip on orthodox doctrine, they

have failed to grasp the practical MEANING of the Gospel.

God is love: we must be careful not to sentimentalise this

phrase. Few words have been devalued as love in the twentieth

century.

Love is a true description of God. But it is not the only

description. He possesses other attributes too. This is why John

can speak of judgement in the same breath as he speaks of love

without feeling any contradiction. The mention of judgement may

arouse fear. It shouldn't for Christians. God's love for us and

our response in love leave no room for fear (18).

When a child arrives home from school, she knocks on the front

door in total confidence that she will be admitted. She would not

feel so secure knocking on any other door. In the same way, John

tells us love can eliminate anxiety even before the gates of

heaven. The vital issue is our relationship with the One inside.

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PRAY Pray that previous wounds will not hinder you from being open-

hearted and loving. Pray especially for someone you know who may

need your love and God's love today.

 


Index - Foot Hold in the Bible

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