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The central theme of the song "Living in Love" is the profound, all-encompassing love that emanates from God Himself. We anchor our study in the Scripture from 1 John 4:7-12. The Apostle John, imbued by the Spirit, states clearly, "Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God." Here lies the essence of the song—a call to live in divine love, a love that is transformative and rooted in the very nature of God.
The Apostle John, also known as the "Apostle of Love," penned these words during a time when early Christians were grappling with false teachings and divisions. His purpose was to remind the believers of the core message of the gospel: God is love. Situated in the latter part of the first century, the nascent church faced external pressures and internal doctrinal challenges. John, in his pastoral role, exhorted the Christian community to embody the love of God not just as an abstract principle but as a living reality.
The passage reflects a corrective against Gnosticism, which denied the incarnation of Christ. John affirms that authentic Christian experience is rooted in the tangible love demonstrated through Jesus, God's "one and only Son," sent "into the world that we might live through him."
Let us delve into two crucial Greek words: "agape" and "ginōskō."
These terms uncover the depth of the command to love: it is not a mere feeling but an action rooted in God's very nature, requiring an intimate, lived experience of God's presence.
The song's lyrics frame love as both an attribute and an action. Our understanding deepens as we explore the implications:
1. God is Love: When we declare that "God is love," we are not merely describing a part of God; we are affirming His very essence. This aligns with Genesis where God created humanity in His image (Genesis 1:27), suggesting that to love is to reflect our Creator.
2. Love and Understanding: The song states, "Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God." The Apostle Paul echoes this in 1 Corinthians 13:2, noting that without love, all understanding profits nothing. Love is foundational and never secondary.
3. Living in Love, Living in God: Throughout Scripture, living in God suggests abiding or remaining steadfast in His presence (John 15:4). It requires obedience not out of obligation, but in the reflection of His character.
4. Demonstrative Love: John reminds us, "This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son." This echoes John 3:16, emphasizing the sacrificial nature of God's love. It calls us to manifest love in practical, visible ways.
5. Completion of God’s Love in Us: The song reiterates that as we love one another, “God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.” This completion is a maturation process (Greek: "teleioó"), as described in Philippians 1:6, where God completes the good work He began in us.
First, we must embrace God’s Love Personally. Recognize that without accepting His love, reflected through Jesus, our capacity to love others is limited. Meditate on Romans 5:5, which tells us that God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit.
Second, we must Cultivate Intimate Fellowship with God. Engage in God‐centered prayer and Scripture meditation. As Derek Prince often taught, proclaiming the Word aloud solidifies our faith. Say aloud daily: "I am born of God and I know God."
Third, we must Practice Love Actively. Let our actions reflect God’s love. This is not optional. James 2:17 reminds us, “Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.”
Fourth, we must Forgive and Seek Reconciliation. Love naturally flows into forgiveness (Ephesians 4:32). Harboring bitterness restricts God’s love in our lives.
Proclamation:
In the name of Jesus, I boldly declare: "I am born of God and I know God. The love of God is poured into my heart. Whoever loves lives in God, and God in them. His love in me is complete."
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your boundless love demonstrated through Jesus Christ. Help us to live in love, reflecting Your nature in all we do. Fill us anew with Your Spirit, that our love for others may reveal Your presence and glory. Amen.
Thus, we are called not to abide in sentiment, but to live as channels of divine love, allowing the transformative power of God’s truth to touch those around us.
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