Abiding

If God is love, and if abiding in Him means abiding in love, today’s text is sort of a big deal! Think about it. John says that those who experience the kind of love that he is about to explain abide in God Himself! Abiding in His love means we grow within it. Here is an illustration. I was worried! The tents at a women’s congress in Africa were packed with women from many countries. Many languages needed translation, yet few women were available or even trained to speak as translators.

I prayed, “God, you have someone here to help me. Send her!” From a distance, I heard a voice. I turned toward the kind voice that said, “Sister Raquel, use me. I am not perfect in English, but I felt impressed to accept the challenge.” What a joy! We ministered together that day. Many women heard the message in their own language.

This is the power that one woman, working with God, can have —the power to do mighty things. Returning to my room later, I reflected on this young woman, so full of the Holy Spirit and so full of God’s love. The words of John came to mind: “Whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.” This is love that moves you beyond your capacity. Love that leads you to anticipate a need.

Love that empowers you to serve despite your limitations. Love that compels you to respond to God’s calling to serve others.

In this chapter, John helps us understand this love.

First, we discover that the Son of God died for our sins because God loved us before we loved Him (1 John 4:10, 19). Second, God’s love empowers us to love (verses 11, 12). Third, the love of God is perfected in us to give us confidence (verse 17). Fourth, when we know God’s love, we do not experience fear because “perfect love casts out fear” (verse 18, NKJV). Fifth, whoever loves God must also love her sister (verse 21). Hugging this young woman on the last day of our congress, I said to her, “You showed what it is to love others.” Smiling, she replied, “No, Sister Raquel, God showed His love through me.” She went back home to Togo, but her empowered service and love for her sisters remain. My prayer this morning is, “Lord, send me someone to love today.” And He will.

Raquel Queiros da Costa Arrais