Light up the Room

1 John 4:17-19 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. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. 19 We love Him because He first loved us.

You cannot read anything that John wrote in the Bible and not see love. If there was one word to capture all of John’s writings, it would be love. Love soaks all his writings; sometimes seemingly you wonder how it all doesn’t become redundant, but yet the Spirit gives you glimpses of John’s heart, and maybe He opens your eyes to a little understanding of why John was special to Jesus; he was described as the one Jesus loved, and that level of their intimacy is evident in the New Testament. John’s gospel never speaks of repentance; John’s writings only speak of one’s heart condition; John was the only apostle to not die the martyrs death; John was given a special gift from God, a special gift for Jesus, and an encouragement to all of us even today. John understood love, exemplified love, and wrote of how we all are to pursue it with all our hearts, and the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guide us through life, and to a deeper relationship with Him.

Do you see in the passage above how the word “perfect” is used? Perfected can only describe Jesus; none other can claim that title. John speaks of how He was both manifested to us, and indwells in us. It is a sad state that so many of us Christians wash over the power of the Holy Spirit of GOD that dwells in us. We claim Christianity and yet we live for this world outside of the Sunday rituals and random pleas or prayers. We miss the intimacy, the strength, wisdom, power, boldness, fearlessness, power of GOD that dwells within us, because we become focused on the world, and the ruler of the world seeks only to steal, kill, and destroy. There are countless examples, analogies, and even understandings at worldly standards in the Bible of how good and evil cannot coexist. For example, light and darkness: The darkest space is dispelled with the slightest light, the greater the light, the weaker the darkness. 1 John 1:5 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If you will seek the wisdom of God, and seek a depth of understanding in this simple analogy, He will shed light to your mind through your heart. He will begin to open your eyes to understanding of the power of light over darkness, the power of him that resides in you! It is only through a humble heart that God imparts this wisdom. It is only through a pure heart that is seeking an intimacy of God to know more and become his disciple. Theses conditions of the heart permeate John’s writings.

When God grants you a glimpse of these levels of love, it comes with great boldness and power. It likely comes with a glimpse of his sovereignty, for you will begin to see the level of love he poured out on us while we were still sinners. This glimpse of the power and love of God will bring the boldness in the coming day of his judgement of the world, for you have no fear of it. You have a holy reverent fear of your Lord God, but you rest in the assurance of where you lie for eternity with him. This boldness he uses for your short time here to minister to his saints, to encourage those on the outside, to boldly witness of the gospel of Jesus Christ, to be a light to those still in the dark. 2 Corinthians 4:6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. This world will never be the same today, for we are one day closer to Jesus Christ’s return. The election has passed, and we are set for God’s design for our nations future with a new leader. God does not need, but he does desire, to use you for his heavenly purposes to boldly proclaim the only Savior for this world. God wants to use and exemplify the level of his love to this world who is angry. Let the light of God shine today, increase his light by seeking him in prayer and his Word. He wants to use you to light up the room.