The perfect love of God was made manifest in the coming of Jesus
1 John 4:7 tells us that perfect, unconditional, fatherly “love comes from God.” Not only does it come from God, but verses 8 & 16 tell us that “God IS love.” He is love because He is holy and trinity; meaning that His love is perfect, and that perfect love springs from His nature. Our God is one God in three persons; meaning the Father loves the Son & Spirit perfectly, the Son loves the Father & Spirit perfectly, and the Spirit loves the Father and Son perfectly. Therefore within himself, God is love.
God’s design for humanity was for our identity, worth and well-being to be rooted in His perfect love, and for His love to flow through us to others. But when sin entered the world our ability to give and receive perfect love broke because our connection to God’s perfect love broke. No matter how hard we try the love we give is broken by sin. Even in the best of relationships or friendships love is still broken.
the good news is that perfect love
has come to us in the birth of Jesus
But “in this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live (in God’s love) through him.” (1 Jn 4:9)
Not only that, but God made a way for us to be brought into His perfect love. Verse 10 says: “In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and send his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” This means that the work of Jesus on the cross satisfied the demands of God’s holiness and opened the door for us to live in God’s perfect love again.
Not only that but when we place our faith in Jesus the Spirit of God comes to live in us enabling and empowering us to love others with His perfect love. Verse 12 says: “No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.” This means the longer we’re in Christ and more we walk by the Spirit, the more our love will reflect the perfect love of God to others.
QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER
In what ways has Godless love disappointed?
How have you seen Godless love shape identity, worth, and wellbeing? you/others?
How has the love of Jesus transformed your relationships? romantic/friendship/family?
PRAYER FOCUS
Take time to examine your relationships to determine if they are rooted in and impacted by your relationship with God and His perfect love. Ask the Lord to perfect the love you give as you strive to walk by the Spirit.