So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us.
God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.
1 John 4:16 ESV
by Jodie Barrett
Guest Contributor
Driving down the road with the Christian radio station playing, I really paused to hear the words.
He was pierced for our transgressions, crushed for our sins.
Tears ran.
The song continued, The punishment that brought us peace was upon him.
More tears came, and I went home to locate those words in my Bible.
But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins.
He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. Isaiah 53:5 NLT
Is there any greater love than the love of Jesus? No. Absolutely no.
His love is deeper and wider than any other.
His love is Real Love
Then why sometimes do I doubt that I am loved?
Why do I connect how I feel or what’s happening to me with trusting the goodness of God’s love?
Because I must “come to know and believe” as this verse in 1 John says:
So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us.
God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.
1 John 4:16 ESV
Two parts –
Knowing is one thing, believing is another altogether.
Ann Graham Lotz explains it as our “head” knowledge dropping down 12 inches and becoming our “heart” knowledge.
What we know in our head to be true, must move into our hearts and become real.
We must come to know AND believe.
We must believe the love that God has for us and we must trust the goodness of His love.
And then, according to 1 John 4:16, we must abide in His love.
The NIV version of this verse says, Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.
Can you picture yourself wrapped up in His love? So entangled that the two of you are inseparable?
Lord,
Your love is grand, like no other. You gave your life for mine. I want to believe and trust in you fully. To be so wrapped up in your love that we are inseparable. I trust that your love is real. Help me focus on that truth when doubts creep in. Amen
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Jodie Barrett is a wife, mother, homemaker, office manager, teacher and speaker.
She enjoys using the gifts that God has given her combined with the wisdom gained from the Word and life experiences to motivate and encourage women to strengthen their faith.
She resides in the small town of Roanoke Rapids, NC and attends Calvary Baptist Church.
Catch up with Jodie on her blog at Faithfully Following Ministries and Facebook and Instagram.
Jodie,
Thank you for this post. I love this sentence: “We must believe the love that God has for us and we must trust the goodness of His love.” I say many times over Amen! WE must come to Him in total surrender.
Beautiful, Jodie! I was late to the love game. I learned a whole lotta law as a child, and as a “rule follower,” that was OK, until the first time I really realized I was a sinner. Then I assumed God couldn’t possibly love me anymore, so I ran from Him and from His law. Praise God I learned eventually the depths of his unchanging love for me in Jesus. And truth be told, I know it deeper and stronger now than I ever would have otherwise. God is so good! Blessings!