This is the Love of God         Ed Elliot

John writes: ”This is love; not that we loved God, but that He loved us”  (1 John 4:10). 

Walking in love is all about understanding and believing in the love God has for you.  A principle of the heart is as a man thinks in his heart, so will he be (Proverbs 23:7).  What you believe in your heart will be reflected in your life.  If you struggle with believing God has forgiven you, it will be a battle for you to forgive others.  If your heart isn’t established in the love God has for you, it will always be a battle for you to love others.

“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life”  (Proverbs 4:23).  The issues we have in life, positive or negative, are often related to what we do or don’t believe about who God is to us.

The simple truth is walking in love isn’t about your  performance but a lifestyle based on living in the reality of God’s love for you.

I John 4:8 says, “He that loves, knows God and he that loves not, doesn’t know God!”  It doesn’t say, “He that lives holy knows God or he that keeps the Ten Commandments knows God or he that rebukes and corrects false doctrine knows God.”  It says, “He that loves knows God.” Someone who truly knows God, will out of love for Him, do what pleases Him.  The believer’s life and character will replicate God’s presence because faith works by love.  The believer’s life will be a reflection of that unfailing and life-transforming love God has for us.  Then, the world will see what Jesus declared, “They shall know you by your love.”  What a beautiful identity to have!