October 16
There is one distinguishing characteristic that God states of Himself and extends to those who believe in Him as the paramount aspect of their own lives that He desires be seen in them. We know Jesus has stated that He is, “the Way, the Truth, the Life…” (John 14:6), but He does not extend these to us.
He does not, by extrapolation, give us the authority to be the way, the truth, or the life. He reserves these attributes for Himself. Though we may witness in the behalf of His Kingdom and His purpose of the way, truth, and life; though our lives may be living epistles that are carefully scrutinized by those who observe us, we are merely letters that men may read that tell them about these aspects of His character.
In I John 4:16 we are given the one significant thing that will set us apart from all other men, from all other religionists. Here, the beloved apostle says, “We have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love and the one who remains in love remains in God.”
Love. “…the one who remains in love remains in God.” We, the ones who profess to know Jesus and to love Jesus, we who are the blood-bought, blood-washed children of the Living God, have one undeniable evidence of our relationship with Him. We will always love as He loves.
In fact, He says, "By this shall all men know that you are My disciples, that you love," John 13:35. May we ever be known by the reflection of Christ's love that men see in us...not just good men who are worthy of love, but all men, for it was love for all men that took Jesus to the cross. It is for lost men that the light of His love in us leads to the cross.
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