“Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.” 1 John 4:11-12
An exhortation to remember when we are tempted to be unloving. Our love must not be a mere sentiment. God asks us to give ourselves for the good of others, just as He gives for our good.
“No one has ever seen God” means no mortal sinner has ever seen God directly and fully. A sinner may see God only through faith in Jesus Christ. Just as we cannot see God except through faith in Jesus, so we also have no way of serving God except by loving our neighbor through faith in Jesus.
“Lives in us” is a major theme in John, defining the relationship not only of persons in the Trinity, but also between believers and Christ.
“Made complete” indicates God’s love for us has achieved its purpose in us when it causes us to love others. As we love others, we know that God’s love is remaining in us.
God’s blessings on your day…