Carol J German

God is everywhere. You cannot escape the love that He has for you. The greatest thing you can do for yourself is to embrace it. You desire it. You were made for it, yet you don’t seek it like you should. You miss out, and you wonder why your heart is lonely, needy, insecure perhaps?

You were made to be loved by your heavenly Father.

Let’s take a look at what happens when you embrace the love of God. In 1 John 4:7-21, you learn how God’s style of love is transactional. He loved you first. When you embrace it, He transforms you and helps you to love others. John tells us to continue to love one another. Why would He say this?

Love comes from God.

If you choose to not show love, you reveal that you do not know God, for God is love. How did God show love to you and me? “God showed how much He loved us by sending His one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through Him.”⁹ John tells you what real love is. “It is not that we loved God, but He loved us and sent His Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.”¹⁰ Because of this simple truth, John tells you, “we ought to love each other.” When you show love to those around you, it reveals that God lives within you, and His love is expressed the fullest when you show love to others. It is like you are embracing God.

To help you, God gives you His Spirit. The Spirit is like your birth certificate that verifies that you have been born again. You had your first birth from your earthly mother. Now, you have an eternal birth which takes you into eternity where you will be in His presence. God gives you 2020 vision to see for yourself that what He tells you is authentic. He gives you a voice that can speak about God’s amazing love through His Son Jesus Christ. When your heart is full of God’s love, you will confess that Jesus is the Son of God. Those who reveal such honesty reveal that “God is living in them and they live in God.”¹⁵ What is the result?

“You know how much God loves you, and you have put your trust in His love.”¹⁶

God’s love is an intimate one. Notice what verses 16b,17a says, “God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect.”

There is a continual outpouring of love from God when you embrace Him.

Another facet of God’s love is you do not need to fear God. A day of judgment is coming for those who refuse to embrace His love, but for those who say yes to Jesus and follow in His ways, “you can face Him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world.”¹⁷ “Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear.”¹⁸ Fear shows that we haven’t fully experienced His perfect love.

Don’t be down if you struggle with fear, like I do, as well as anxiety. This just means that you and I need to keep our focus on Him. You and I won’t fully be fearless until we see Jesus face to face in heaven. He will see you through until the day He takes you home.

God’s love is meant to be shared. “We love each other, because He loved us first.”¹⁹

God calls His children to be authentic. You may say you love God, but if you dislike fellow believers, John says you are a liar. For God’s love to be within you, you must love others. You know when God takes something seriously when He commands it.

So, are you willing to embrace His love? Are you willing to be authentic in your words and actions? Like Christ, will you show unconditional love? You can’t on your own. Your sin is too great, but with Christ living within you everything is possible, especially love. His love can heal deep-seated wounds, mend broken hearts, and deepen relationships. His love can turn chaos into peace, as well as bring unity from what seems like never-ending division. God’s love conquers all. 1 Peter 4:8 says, “Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.”