Daily Reading: 1 John 4
Scripture Focus: No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us. (1 John 4.12)
Devotional Thought: One of my favorite children's books is, "Where's Waldo?" I used to love to find Waldo with my kids - and still do with my grandkids. Have you ever looked for Waldo? He's hard to find, isn't he? Why is that? Usually, it's because he's in a crowd of people that share his characteristics. Waldo is 'hidden in plain view.'
God is like that. I know he's 'hidden' in the pages of the Bible and we can find him there, as we find Waldo in the pages of those fun books. But also, I believe God is hidden in plain view in the Church. Just like Waldo, he's in a crowd, and we can miss him. But, it was in a crowd when I first 'saw' God. The saints at Pioneer, Ohio Church of the Nazarene, showed him to me. The Lord was in that group. I saw him in their love, in their characteristics.
The Apostle John had that experience. He wrote, "No one has ever seen God." But, God was hidden in plain view, for when "we love one another, God abides in us." Like Waldo, God loves to hang out in a crowd of people that share his characteristics. But, unlike Waldo, he doesn't do it to hide. He lives among the people who love him, so that we can see him! When God's love is perfected in you, I see God in you.
One of the most convincing evidences of God is the love we have for one another. That's one reason why we are told we must not forsake meeting together, and are commanded to love one another. Our love draws others into his love, so that they can find the One who is hidden in plain view.
Prayer: Thank you, Lord, that you are hidden in plain view. Help me to display your characteristics, so that others will see you in me. Amen.
Psalm of the Day: Psalm 129.5-8
5 May all who hate Zion
be put to shame and turned backward!
6 Let them be like the grass on the housetops,
which withers before it grows up,
7 with which the reaper does not fill his hand
nor the binder of sheaves his arms,
8 nor do those who pass by say,
“The blessing of the Lord be upon you!
We bless you in the name of the Lord!”
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