Today's encouragement comes from 1 John 4:16a, where we read these few words:
"And we have known and believed the love that God has for us . . . "
It is a big deal to know and believe that God loves us. This is especially true, because in our natural state we all hated God. But now, if we are in Jesus, we are loved by Him; and we love Him (cf. v. 10a). Now, because we recognize that we are loved by God, and we actually believe the incredible fact of this truth--we cannot do enough for Christ. God's love now "compels" us, (2 Cor. 5:14), to a lively obedience.
If we do not know and believe that God loves us, then we will inevitably show ourselves to be a spiritual adulterers--since we will seek our affection from idols. This is why it is imperative that we get a solid interest in Jesus' gospel--so that we are the genuine object of His love.
[Puritan quote of the day: "Such as think totally to ruin the church, must do it in a time when it is neither day nor night, for the Lord keeps [the church] by His providence night and day." --Thomas Watson, in "A Body of Divinity"]
