1John 4:1-21
Wednesday, 01 January 2025
By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into this world so that we might live through Him – 1 John 4:9
Greetings to you all in the matchless name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! Thank God for His faithfulness that brought us to a new year! As we enter 2025, let us hear from Him—His expectation of each of us.
The plan of God for each believer is that he/she will become a true disciple of Christ who will live through Christ! The key verse in 1John 4:9 defines this purpose- the love of God was manifested, for all disciples to live their lives through Christ.
The manner in which the love of God was manifested to humans was by the presence of God Himself in the person of Jesus Christ. As 2Corinthians 5:19 proclaims: “God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them….. “. Truly His name was Emmanuel, God with us. (Matthew 1:23; Isaiah 7:14). In Hebrew, the name Emmanuel, combines two key elements: “immanu” meaning “with us” and “el” meaning “God”. Thus, the literal translation is “God with us” or “God is with us”.
Through Jesus Christ, God dwelt among human beings! John 1:14 says: “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us.” The word “dwelt” in Greek means to pitch a tent! In Exodus 25:8 God said to Moses: “Let them construct a sanctuary for Me, that I may dwell among them.” –“I may dwell among them” or I may Tabernacle among them”. In John 1:14 we see God “tabernacled" among men in the person of Jesus Christ. To pitch or live in a tent (Tabernacle) implies deeper meaning than mere dwelling. For a disciple, dwelling with Him means dwelling in intimate communion with the resurrected and living Christ. That means to be in constant touch with His Life—He who lived and is currently in unbroken communion with the Father in heaven.
God was not homeless, to ask them to build a place for His dwelling- He meant something bigger than just a dwelling. God wanted to involve in the life of His people. He wanted to give them an identity, purpose and strength. So God’s dwelling among them, meant all these. God’s presence among His people, emphasizes the idea of God dwelling with humanity in constant and intimate relationship. It means being in intimacy with the nature of God. Therefore the presence of God among His people gave a unique identity which made them distinct from the people around them. In a similar manner, when God came to dwell among His people in the person of Jesus Christ, He had a bigger purpose too.
So when we think about living through Christ, it means living in intimate relationship with Him through the new identity, purpose and strength that He imparts to those who yearn for that kind of a relationship.
Living implies life – it is the divine life that Christ provides to those who dwell with Him. A green tree and running water are two powerful metaphors that symbolize life. Besides, the scripture proclaims that “Life everlasting” will be present where unity exists.
Psalm 52:8 But as for me, I am like a green olive tree in the house of God…”
John7:18 He who believes in Me, as the scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’
Psalm 133:1,3 Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity…… For there the LORD commended the blessing – life forever.
The Green Tree in the 2025 Bible Reading Card points to the life in each of us and the Running Water reminds us of the life that we impart to others and Unity helps us maintain the life received from Christ. Jesus calls each of us to come to Him and have an intimate relationship with Him (Matt. 11:28-30). Let the power of sin be broken by the One who destroys the works of the devil (1John 3:5-8) and let His life be manifest in us!
To Act on: Let us strive in the new year, to live through Christ reflecting His life is us and imparting life to others around us.
Listen: 'Yet not I but through Christ in me'
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