Sent In Love

"By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world." 1 John 4:13-17 NKJV

Jesus was the sent One... we are sent ones. Jesus was given the Spirit and so are we. He was loved as a son is loved and we are also loved. We can make this love our home. It is our home. If we choose to live in this place there is kind of confidence that can not be found anywhere else.

Every person has certain fundamental needs. Some of these lists are long and some short. Food, shelter, water are some physical needs but the need for love, purpose, understanding, identity and creativity are others. Our God meets all of these needs and many of them are met right here in this verse in 1 John.

Notice it isn't just saved ones that live in love. It is sent ones that live there. The momentum of our call deflects shame. There is rest in knowing that you are going as an ambassador and living in the decree of the royal law of love. We are all going to make mistakes in how we love people but there is little covering in a passivity that keeps to itself and never risks loving others.

I am not talking about the model of romantic love that we are fed in different flavors from every corner of culture. That love is indeed dangerous and deceptive. The love of a sent one flows in the channel of divine authority to us and through us. It is a love that never fails. It binds, it feeds, it nurtures, it helps, it affirms and it is filled with humor, joy and purity.

This is a confidence born of communion. Where we eat bread and wine with Him moment by moment at His table. Filled with the fellowship we have one with another and drunk on justification. Unlike it's Earthly counterparts this food and drink will not make us fat or dissipate us. It enlivens and equips us for the next thing.