October 15, 2022 - 1 John 4

A little child might ask, “Where is God? I can’t see him. How do I know he is real?” In their own way, these chapters answer those questions. God is spirit, and we do not see him. But we see the evidence of his presence. God’s love is displayed in his people. This is the sort of love that does not come naturally to us. It is a divine love, which is an obvious fact; this love transcends any possible merely human love. God works in his children so that we believe and testify that Jesus has come as our savior. God lives in us and casts out fear. God creates in us a desire to obey his commandments. Though we sin, because God works in us, we less and less sin and are becoming more and more like God.

The evidence is clear. We are different. We live differently than others. Our eyes and hearts are focused on God. God's existence is shown by his work in us. And, so, as God’s children we are able to sing:

Jesus loves me, this I know,

for the Bible tells me so.

Little ones to him belong;

they are weak, but he is strong.

Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me!

Yes, Jesus loves me! The Bible tells me so. -- Anna Bartlett Warner (1859)