1 John 4

Read 1 John 4 first- https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+John+4&version=NIV

So turns out I missed a day. I thought I wrote a blog yesterday and I didn’t. I was running around teaching myself how to do one man puppetry and looking at Psalm 23 and it didn’t even occur to me that I missed out. I’m sorry. But thankful for Grace! I almost didn’t even do it today.

We start with a look at the gnostic thought that Jesus was God and not man- the spirit tells us Jesus was flesh- and that’s truth. Today w have the opposite thought- Jesus was man but not God. Hard to believe the opposite was a significant issue, yet John talks about it a lot.

Then we get two verses that I just love: ⁴ You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. ⁵ They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world.” Knowing that God is in us and greater than anything we face is super comforting. Then we get to the hard part don’t speak to the viewpoint of the world. It’s easy to follow the crowd- have sex before you’re married, get drunk on the weekends, gossip, tell everyone your problems except the person you have the problem with, the ways of the world are all around us and the temptations are huge. How can we not fall into the trap? Remember the previous verse. He who is in me is greater than the world. If you’re right by God it doesn’t really matter what anyone else thinks or says.

Then we get the best words in scripture. We love because of God’s love. All love is a reflection of God’s love because God is love. Now love isn’t God, but it’s a reflection of His will and ways towards us. God is also patient but he’s not patience.

“If we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us” that’s what it’s about. Stick to God and the love comes. It changes you and the way you think and feel. It’s easy to see God in the love people have for one another. And right now- with everything that’s been taken away- that’s all we have.

Then it talks about how there’s no fear in love. It’s weird you would think maybe addressing fear head on would be the cure, but no it’s love. When storms come as kids what helps is knowing mom is close by. A hug gets rid of fear, but a hug has never stopped a storm from coming. Just this last week I had a disagreement with someone. I may have been passive aggressively texting someone or maybe they were doing that to me. Regardless I was angry. Decided to call the person. Now I didn’t get my way, but the sound of the voice and some discussion my anger and hate and fear in the situation was gone. Fear and hate had been conquered by love. When you know that both parties voices have been heard things get better. The one who fears is not made perfect in love- if all you do is fear God then you’re missing out! Fear and love is what Luther says and it’s good to dance in the middle! The fear is of the awesomeness and grandness of God to follow Him when we’re sinners, the love is shown in what Christ did for us to take on the wrath of God and the worst of our sin on the cross.

This chapter encapsulates Christ’s words about the greatest commandment- Love God- love your neighbor. They go together like ranch and siracha or chocolate and bacon. Be a person who does both. Why? Because God loves you and your neighbor- even the one you hate!