God’s Word is simply amazing.  The challenge it presented to me today:

“God is love.  When we take up permanent residence in a life of love, we live in God and God lives in us.  This way, love has the run of the house, becomes at home and mature in us, so that we’re free of worry on Judgment Day – our standing in the world is identical with Christ’s.  There is no room in love for fear.  Well formed love banishes fear.  Since fear is crippling, a fearful life – fear of death, fear of judgment – is one not yet fully formed in love.

We, though, are going to love – love and be loved.  First we were loved, now we love.  He loved us first.

If anyone boasts, ‘I love God,’ and goes right on hating his brother or sister, thinking nothing of it, he is a liar.  If he won’t love the person he can see, how can he love the God he can’t see?  The command we have from Christ is blunt:  Loving God includes loving people.  You’ve got to love both.” 1 John 4:17-21 MSG

There is so much packed in that tiny little passage it will take me weeks to absorb.  Some of the most thought-provoking lines:

God lives in us.

There is no room in love for fear.

He loved us first.

Loving God includes loving people.

I fail at this most of the time.  I don’t want to try to love others so that God will love me.  I want to naturally love others BECAUSE God loves me.  There is such a difference, and I know people can spot it a mile away.  I want to live a life “fully formed in love”.   But most of the time I’m just trying.  Does anyone else feel this way, or is it just me???   I’d love to hear some thoughts…