In God!

In God!

1 John 4:16 NIV

[16] 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.

We read again from a letter written by a man who could testify to a personal relationship with God. It does matter if a man has had this personal encounter. A lot of people have heard or read about God from the accounts of other people. Rather than ask God for their own, they go all out in the strength of these non-personal stories, and build edifices on these. John was not one of such people; he said quite emphatically that what he had heard, seen with his own eyes, and touched with his own hands was what he was now proclaiming to his audience. Can I speak with such clarity and conviction, sure and confident in the God whom I claim to know, follow, and serve? It really does matter if a man has met with this God. This personal touch is what will sustain when the going gets tough; when the rains come down, and the winds blow and beat against that which we have set down.

It is love that has been personally experienced that can keep a man focused on the eternal, whilst still navigating the earthly. I note that God's love does not prevent us from going through tough times; it keeps us focused on the One who lives inside of us and makes the journey worth it. Reflect on some of the things this love has brought us: we were redeemed from the curse of the law, at a time when we did not even know we needed help. We were set apart by God to be the reflection and expression of His power and glory, and by the things we do, we make God known. We declare His power and glory by the way we live our lives. We have tested this God, and we have found and proven Him to be true to His word and promises. As it has been said earlier, God is love. That is an immutable statement that is true in all its ramifications, no matter what the current circumstances look like. 

Sometimes, things will get very 'bad' in our own estimation. For a child of God, everything works for the good of them who love God. We are the ones who define events by our own estimations and conclusions, but God is not moved by the things we can see. If I could only see with the eyes that God sees me, I would not fret when I do not have what I ask for at the time I think I should have it. As long as I am IN God, I am where I am expected to be. Let the winds, storms, and rain meet me IN Him. Let all that is coming, good or bad, meet me IN Him. I can reach out with what I am and have IN Him, because His presence and power IN me cannot be ignored. The one who has God is not ordinary, and cannot live an ordinary life. Make sure you are IN God; make sure God knows you as His own. Eternity is too long a time not to be sure of where you will spend yours. Have you responded and received the love of this God? God's time of favour is here.