The beauty of His love is that He fully desires and has purposed that it may become a love which is shared. John presented it as being something which was made known. A positive statement which would reveal the evidence that they had become partakers of the great and majestic love. In the intertwining of the Lord with man, the confirmation of His presence is the manifestation of His love. Love will reign supreme where His love is dwelling. 1 John 4:16 The witness that we are in Christ and He in us is determined by the measure of the workings of love. The ability to display love toward others. What a challenge. We say that we are in Christ. It is necessary that we display in works and not in words the fact of His inward presence. The ways of the Lord are very practical and are contrary to the ways of mankind. Hos. 14:9
His love dwelling and manifesting itself in us is the beginning, the foundation of the Christian life. We daily face the challenge of living that love. The world is filled with that which is unlovely, the despicable, the vile and the those who live with the extreme lowest nature of man, as their way of life. Yet, the love of the Lord is always extended to those of such character. The wonderful forgiveness found in His love is extended to the whosoever will, regardless of their wicked and sinful nature. He has concluded all under sin that He might have mercy upon us all. Gal.3:22
As with all of the ways of the Lord, He looks to bring His love in us to its perfection. 1 John 4:12 “His love is perfected in us.” That is, it is brought to its fullness, a completed state reflecting that love as it is found in Him. It is not dormant but is a living, functional love. Surely, if He is in us and we are in Him, then the whole of His glorious being will be made displayed in us just as it is resident within Him. He is in the process of purifying a special people unto Himself who bear His likeness and have His Spirit. Titus 2:14
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We readily speak of His tremendous love expressed for us in the giving of His only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus. John 3:16 In His love we find the care and compassion which we so desperately need in this life. In Him we are assured of one who regardless of all circumstances in which we find ourselves, still loves us. The plan of the redemption of fallen mankind has its beginnings from before the foundation of the world. In His foreknowledge, those who have accepted and embraced His love, were acknowledged by Him from the very beginning of creation. Eph. 1:4 The effect of that love has a sanctifying influence on every life that embraces it. It is a love which will produce a spirit of holiness and blamelessness, before Him.
If there is one word which characterizes Christianity, it has to be love. There is absolutely no question as to the magnitude of His love for mankind. The key to a real and personal relationship of love for Him is found in the measure of reciprocal love displayed. The unchanging first and great commandment is to love the Lord with the whole, the entire heart. The passion of such powerful love cannot help but greatly touch the heart of the Lord. Love responds to love. A real love for Him must embrace also the soul of man. Such an expression of love for Him speaks to placing Him far above the beggarly elements of this world. He must be the very first and predominate in our expressions of what we love and seek for, even in the necessities of this life. Then the mind, with every thought being brought into subjection to the Lord Jesus. 2 Cor. 10:5 That which we entertain in our mind will determine our course of action in all matters. The mind which meditates in the Word and on the Lord is a mind of perfect peace. Isa. 26:3
In His response to question of the lawyer Jesus added ‘with all your strength.’ Luke 10:27 The whole energy and effort turned toward a constant increase of appreciation and love toward the Lord. The call of the love of the Lord is for mankind to come to a full understanding of His mighty love and then respond with whole man, body, soul and spirit. The result of such deep and profound love creates the ability to fulfill the second commandment, and that is to love our neighbor, the whole of humanity as the Lord loves them. How can we improve or grow in His love without meeting these basic requirements. The strength, the power of the manifestation of the life of Christ in His people is dependent on our love for Him along with our participation, our response to that glorious love.