“A picture is worth a thousand words…Seeing is believing…A picture never lies…Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words…” We are a very visual culture. Pictures, slide shows, paintings, and visual images communicate far more than words.
So, why should we love one another?
Because,
“No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.”
Did you catch that? “No one has ever seen God!” The next part of this verse is where things get exciting. “IF (or when) we love one another, God abides (dwells) in us and His love is perfected (or made complete) in us.” Do you see it? Did you hear what God just did?
No one has ever seen God, but if we love one another, then God dwells in us.
Can other people see you? Yes.
If God dwells in you, then could others possible see Jesus in you too? Yes.
If others can see God in you, then isn’t that kind of like seeing God? Yes.
WOW! We have the ability and responsibility to help others see the invisible God!
Why must we love one another? So the world can see the invisible God!
Real Choices:
How can you be a visual image of the love of God today? Remember when God desired to show us His love He sent Jesus to die on the cross for our sins. What a great visual image…service, selflessness, and sacrifice…all to show us His love so that we could see the invisible God. How about you? Who around you might need to see the invisible God through your love for them and others?
Digging Deeper:
Read John 13:34-35, and then consider the number of times that Jesus instructed His disciples with a “new command.” I believe you will find it seldom which highlights the significance of the command. Does your family or community know you are a disciple of Christ by your love?
Pray:
Jesus make me a portrait of your love today. God abide in me as You love others through me, and let people see You, the invisible God, in me for your glory and their salvation. Praise be to God our Father. Amen!
Read the first two devotions on 1 John 4:7-12 (How to Love One Another & What God’s Love Does for Us).
Copyright © August 2007 by Taylor W. Kendrick
All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author.
For many years my church has celebrated the February birthdays of residents at a retirement home outside of Chicago. We prepare a short program as part of this ministry.
I have a question I was hoping you could answer concerning this website. Would it be possible for Forest Park Baptist Church to receive permission to use thoughts from one or two love-themed devotionals at this outreach event?
Thank you in advance for your consideration of this request.
Gratefully His,
Angie Steinhart
By: Angela Steinhart on January 16, 2008
at 12:33 pm
Angela,
Thank you for your request. I have sent a private response to you via the email address you gave.
Have a blessed day, and thank you for stopping by!
Taylor
By: Taylor on January 16, 2008
at 12:55 pm
This devotion is awesome and I have someone on a prayer group site that really needs to see this. Would you give me permission to post this on a prayer group site? Or how can I get this to the person who really needs this devotion?
Thanks!
Lynne
By: Lynne on January 29, 2009
at 11:19 pm
Lynne,
You have my permission to place this article on your prayer group site. Sorry for waiting so long to respond. I just now saw that you had left a comment. I’m glad this devotion was able to minister to you. Please feel free to use it to help anyone else you believe it could.
God’s peace be with you!
Taylor
By: Taylor on February 6, 2009
at 6:32 pm