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1 John 4:16-17, And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.  This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus.  

In the beginning of chapter 4, John warns against false prophets.  This is a theme we see throughout the New Testament letters.  People are entering the church and teaching things that go against Jesus in some way.  In this case, the false teaching must have been about the incarnation.  John says that one can know that a person has the Spirit of God in them (as opposed to a false spirit) if they acknowledge that Jesus came in the flesh, that Jesus came as a human, died on a cross, and was resurrected from the dead.  He continues to encourage the believers, making sure they understand that they are children of God, and that whatever false spirits the world throws at them, they can resist.  Why?  Because he that is in them (the Spirit of the Living God) is greater than he that is in the world.  What a great reminder for us as well!  Regardless of the mess going on around us, regardless of temptations and distractions, we can stay focused and committed to the work of Jesus Christ because he that is in us is greater than he that is in the world.  Jesus always trumps evil.  Light triumphs over darkness. 

I do want us to get to our focus verses, however.  This is some beautiful and powerful text.  John has just gotten done writing about how he and others were eyewitnesses to the incarnation. They have seen that the Father sent Jesus to be the Savior of the world.  Think about what John had seen in his lifetime.  He walked with Jesus, was part of his ministry, he was a witness to the cross, and then later to the empty tomb.  And now John proclaims that those who believe this have God living within them.  Thus, we can be assured of the love God has for us (verse 16). 

How many people need to hear that today? God loves you and you can be certain of that!  You can also be certain that if you’ve said yes to Jesus Christ, then the spirit of God lives within you. The Spirit of God, the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you.  Those are all exceptional and mind-boggling truths.  But here is another important truth – the mark of those who know and love God is how they love one another.  That’s what Jesus did, he loved God and loved others well, and that is the mark of someone who walks close to Jesus in this world.

The mark is set high.  I’m sinful and distracted.  On my own and in my own power, I will never, ever reach this.  My only chance is Jesus within me.  Your only chance is Jesus within you.  But it is oh so worth the effort, my friends.  Love can be made complete in us.  Wow, wow, wow!

Let’s pray…Jesus, We need you.  We need you.  We need you.  Transform us.  Transform me.  Mold me.  Make me who you want me to be so that I can love others in a way that even vaguely resembles you.  In Your Name, Amen.