I have recently come to a conclusion. This world and every person in it, on an individual basis, wouldn’t have the problems that we all face, if we would value and recognize the love that God has for us. We may say that we “know” that He loves us, but do we fully recognize the fullness of His love? I don’t think so.
If we really knew the love of God then all fear would be evicted from our lives. 1 John 4: 18 says,
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth our fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
Fear is a disease of the spirit that comes from not being developed and perfected in the love of God. Fear has to flee from perfected love. How do we get that love of God perfected in us?
Well, there are two things that are needed to get that perfect love. First, we have to love God and do His Word. We see this in 1 John 2:4-5,
4He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
5But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
We develop the love of God by keeping His Word and it’s the only way we truly know that we are in Him. Second, we have to love one another. 1 John 4:12 says,
No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
Developing in the love of God is a must, especially right now in these uncertain times. Just think about what would happen in every area of your life if you simply applied these two principles.
If you love God and do His Word then fear, sickness, disease, attacks from the enemy would all have to flee. Satan cannot come near a believer that is truly seeking the kingdom of God. And truly seeking that kingdom comes from doing the Word, not just listening to it on Sunday.
Then, just think about what would happen if we would apply the love of God to one another. All strife, gossip, backbiting, hypocrisy, lying, murder, stealing and every other form of hatred to our brothers and sisters would simply disappear.
This is not just a pipe dream, this could really happen in your life. All it takes is the drive to develop in the love that God has.
It is a necessity for the church to be perfected in the love of God. The church has been called to be His ambassador on Earth. And to be that ambassador, we have to develop in love.