Is God’s love in you? This is a question we must each ask ourselves if we profess to be a Christian. Most of the people I know would answer “yes” to this question. However, we need to look within our hearts and examine ourselves against what the Bible says is evidence of God’s love in us.
One way that we know the love of God is in us is how we treat the brethren. In I John 4:11 we are taught that if God loved us we should love one another. In verse 12, we are taught the biblical truth of how others see God. It is through the perfecting of His love in us and the way we treat others that they see God. You cannot hate another person and show God’s love. You cannot gossip about a fellow believer and reveal the love of God. In John 13:34-35, Jesus taught his disciples that the world would know they are His disciples if they love one another. One proof that the love of God is in us is that we love others as He loved us. If God’s love is in us, there is no doubt we will not be involved in gossip or ill feelings toward another Christian.
I John 4:11-12 “Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.”
I John 4:7 “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.”
John 13:34-35 “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”
Another piece of evidence that God’s love is in us is our desire to see others saved. When we love God, we want what He wants. When we love others, we want what is best for them, and that is that they give their hearts to Jesus and accept Him as their Lord and Savior. God teaches us in I Timothy 2:4 that His desire is that all would be saved. That includes EVERYONE! In God’s eyes, there are no little or big sins; all sin is equal in God’s eyes and in the penalty for the one who will not turn to God in repentance. While the consequences here on earth are different for different sins, all sin is a reproach to God.
I Timothy 2:4 “Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.”
The last evidence we will address concerning God’s love being in us is our obedience to Him. In John 14:15 are words that I love. Jesus makes it so that no one can misunderstand. He is speaking with His disciples. He is trying to prepare them for His death and departure. His words were, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” Jesus wants us to understand that mere profession is not proof that we love Him. Real love takes action. It will cause us to think about what we are doing and determine if it is pleasing to Him or not. Real love will require us to deny ourselves in order to please Him. We are not to obey to gain something. We are not to do what we do out of sheer obligation, but we are to obey because we love Him. We should have no hesitation or complaining in following what would please God.
So, is God’s love in you? Are you seeking Him daily and studying to see what He desires from you? Are you willing to forsake all to please Him? How broken are you for the salvation of others? Are you willing to go the extra mile to show the love of God that is within you? Are you convicted when the preacher challenges you to surrender all to allow God’s love to flow through you to others, or are you paying attention to your desire to eat lunch or be somewhere else soon? Where are you in this quest to have, share, and exhibit God’s perfect love?
