Furthermore, we have seen with our own eyes and now testify that the Father sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. All who declare that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God. We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world.

1 John 4: 14-17

On Sunday, Patrina and I listened to a sermon on marriage by a pastor who has been married for some 57 years. He and his wife have grown in their relationship through the good times and more difficult times. There’s a reason wedding vows speak of “to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish till death do us part.”

Throughout the Old and New Testaments, marriage is presented as a kind of image of God’s covenant relationship with His people.

In the verses above, John tells us God loves those who “declare that Jesus is the Son of God.” Then John mentions three times that we “live in God.” This is that same type of abiding love Jesus first mentioned in John chapter 15. And then there is the promise that “as we live in God, our love grows more perfect.”

Think about your closest human relationship. How does love grow more perfect? To me, it speaks of devotion and commitment to another. When our love grows, we make choices that will draw us closer, not drive us apart.

The same is true with our relationship with the Lord. We should be growing stronger every day.