Our Love Is His Love

"We love Him because He first loved us" (1 John 4: 19)

Many teachers, preachers, and reachers in the Body of Christ see Jesus as example. Yet his example is one who lived by God, not just for God:

"As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.

"This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever." (John 6: 57-58)

The Love of God is shed abroad in our hearts through the Holy Spirit (Romans 5: 5) This is an active imputation of the first fruit of the Holy Spirit.

God's love is not just example, but inspiration, both literally and figuratively. He is our moving example. I am more than willing to love others, because God is love, and by His lavish love for me, all my sins were forgiven.

But God is love, and His love lives in us, moves us and powers us. He is the Prime Mover in the life of every believer. In fact, God is the life of every believer (John 10: 10; 14: 6).

"And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

"Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world." (1 John 4: 16-17)

We are one with Jesus through the Holy Spirit, and God the Father loves us as much as He loves His Son (John 17: 21, 23). In this love, therefore, we walk in Him:

"And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour." (Ephesians 5: 2)

and

"Ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:" (Ephesians 5: 8)

We are one with Love, dwelling in Him as He dwells us in us. Our love is His love, which we receive and release by faith.