THE NARTHEX GAME

Reading: I John 4: 7-21

 

Years ago, I made up a game that I played at church quite often.  The rules were very simple: I stand in the Narthex [Lobby] either before or after the church service, preferably in a corner, then wait and see if someone would greet me or come up and talk to me.  The object of this game was to see if I was noticed by anyone, if anyone cared enough to engage me in conversation.  The ultimate question for me at the end of the game was “Does anyone love me?” It was a game I could not win, because I never really got an answer. Even if someone did talk to me, it didn’t actually prove anything.

 

So, why did I play this no-win game? While I grew up in the church and knew quite a bit about God, I had never understood that His love was for me. Yes, He loves the world in general, but me specifically – not a chance…I was quite unlovable. So I was trying to gain love/acceptance from others to fill the deficit I felt.

 

And we have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him (I Jn 4:16). 

Over some time, I began to see, as I studied God’s word, that His love is for me. Coming to the place of knowing and believing that He loves me unconditionally has made all the difference in my life as a Christian. As I live in His love, it fills me up in the center of my being, and I pray that it radiates from me to others.

 

            We love because He first loved us (I Jn 4: 19).

And the Narthex Game? Oh I still play it…but with completely new rules: I stand in the Narthex, looking around for someone who is alone or someone I don’t know. I walk over to them, introduce myself and engage them in conversation. I am hoping God’s love for me is shining through to them, that they may experience a deeper love from Him as we connect.

 

So, friends, have you come to know the love God has for you? Do you believe it? Do you radiate it?

I pray that it is so, and if you don’t yet know it, may you grow into it day-by-day.

Our Source of Love

It was only a couple years ago that I couldn't truthfully say, God loved me.  I don't know what made me so unlovable. I new what the bible said, yet the words had not penetrated my heart.

And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. -1 John 4:16

God did not give up on me.  It was a painful journey but now I can say with all my heart that God loves me.  I understand that God is the SOURCE of love. It is so important for us as Christians to understand how deeply loved we are by God.  

The basis of our relationship with God is Love not fear. Think about it though.  Isn’t it so often fear that drives us away from Him. We fear that He will see how messed up we really are and He won’t accept us. We fear that if He does accept us there will be a point where he will say you’ve exceeded your sin quota and now my love stops.  You’ve reached my limit.

We fear that He really isn’t love, but that He is judgement and anger and punishment.

But if we understand that our relationship with God... the starting point, the ending point, and everything in between is based on love...that should draw us to him and entice us to want to know him more.

1 John 4:18 says, “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.”

So if we understand how much God loves us what should our response be?  We need to show that love to those around us.  There is a world out there that does not understand how loved they are by God.

Read the entire passage here 1 John 4: 16-21

1 John 4:7-21

God’s Love and Ours

“God is Love”

If only we could think in those terms, rather than picturing a human form when God enters our minds. I see this Love that is of God as something invisible that constantly floats among us all. It hovers, waiting to be absorbed into our beings. It is always present, but we have to intentionally seek it. This love does not invite itself into us, but is waiting for the invitation to seep into our hearts.

“If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God.” (1 John 4:15)

“God is Love”

Acknowledging Jesus as the Son of God is more than just words, it is a way of life. Making that claim brings responsibility.  An obligation to live as Jesus advised before his crucifixion, and to follow the example of his life when he walked this earth. Jesus too was Love.

“We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.

And he has given us this command; “Whoever loves God must also love his brother.” (1 John 4:19-21)

 “God is Love”

This gift of love we are offered makes everything alright if we make it who we are by living it each day. Deliberately internalizing this true love will offer peace beyond measure and comfort in the face of despair for God will ever be with you.

“Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.” (1 John 4:16)

“God is Love”

Read/Listen to 1 John 4:7-21