NASB 1 John 4:9 “By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him.”

  The living God is shown, in the followers of Christ.  Just think, God is showing His love for others through you! 

This makes me stop and think, “Am I a good walking advertisement for my God?  Am I consistently showing God’s love to others?”  In all honesty, no. 

  How do you react when a glitch happens in your plans?  Are you angered?  Do you have a pity party?  Do you give up? 

  When you really have your heart set on something to be really good… and it isn’t, what do you do?  Perhaps we should prayerfully consider the following question:
How does God want to show His love in and through this situation?

  My love, my strength, my abilities, my ego, my feelings are not absolutely important.  God and His love, His strength, His ability to override my love, my strength, my abilities, my ego and my feelings that are all important.  I am to be available to my God for Him to show His love – to others through me.

  What does this mean for me?  My ego, my feelings of hurt or self-pity – have to go!

Listen to what God’s word says…
NASB 1 JOHN 4:10    “In this love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation (appeasement to God, covered us) for our sins.

  The importance of God loving us cannot be overemphasized.  He sent His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ to cover my sins… He sent His Son to be the atoning sacrifice I need before the holiness of the living God.

NASB 1 John 4:11 “Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”

God showed His love for you when He sent His Son to Bethlehem, born of a virgin, lived a life without sin, died on a cross in our place; dying because of our sins, He was buried in a tomb and on the third day He came back to life.  His physical body was touchable, seeable, His voice was heard, He ate with people, He walked with people.  He proved His resurrection.

  Since God loved us this much, He tells us that we are to love others, period.

~ Take it to heart ~

How is God showing His love to others through you?