Can God Abide In Us?
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What does it take for God to abide in us? What does it take to truly be what God wants us to be as Christians and to have Him abide in us?
Is it obedience? When we do the actions that God demands, does that allow Him to abide in us? Does God abide in us when we resist temptations? Does God abide in us when we refuse to do wrong and stand up for what is right? Does God abide in us when we measure and calculate each action making sure that those actions are exactly what God has commanded? So many times the Bible stresses the importance of obedience...is that how God abides in us?
Is it worship? Is worship where God abides in us? When we worship in spirit and truth as God has commanded does it allow Him to abide in us? Is it the Lord’s Supper, Singing, Praying, and so on that provide the avenue for God to abide in us? So many times the Bible stresses the importance of worship...is that how God abides in us?
Is it good deeds? Is helping someone in need the way that God abides in us? When we give a meal to the hungry person or help someone who is struggling, is that how God abides in us? So many times the bible stresses the importance of serving others and helping those in need...is that how God abides in us?
Is it faith? Is a complete and utter trust in God the way that God abides in us? Is it the case that the stronger our faith is the more God abides in us? When we trust God and trust His word and know that He exists, heaven exists, and hope exist, is this when God abides in us? Faith is one of the most important concepts in the Bible...is that how God abides in us?
1 John 4:7-12 says, “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. [8] He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. [9] In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. [10] Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. [11] Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. [12] No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.”
Love. Love is how God dwells in us. When we Love one another as God has loved us then God dwells in us and His love is perfected in us. So what about the rest of the things in the Bible? What about obedience, worship, good deeds, and faith? Are they not necessary?
1 Corinthians 13:1-3 even talks about love in relation to other Biblical concepts. If I can speak in tongues, yet don’t have love I am useless. If I can prophesy, understand mysteries, have all knowledge and faith but don’t have love then I am useless. If I give everything I own to feed the poor and sacrifice myself for Christ yet have not love then I am useless. Obedience, worship, good deeds, and faith are all very necessary and important concepts of Christianity, yet without love they accomplish nothing. However, when I love God as I should I will obey Him (John 14:15), I will worship Him (John 4:24), I will do good (Hebrews 13:16), and I will grow in a level of faith that is not possible without love. Love is what makes faith work (Galatians 5:6).
Love is the foundation of Christianity. Love must be what motivates us to do each of the other aspects of Christianity. Love does not replace obedience, worship, good deeds, and faith, but rather love moves us to take these actions in our lives.
Love never fails (1 Corinthians 13:8). Now abide Faith, Hope, Love, these three; but the greatest of these is Love (1 Corinthians 13:13). If we want God to abide in us, we must Love as He loves us!
