God's Perfect Love Removes Strife from Our Lives

"Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom." (Proverbs 13:10)

Pride creates strife, the need for men and women to make themselves First, to grant themselves a sort of pre-eminence.

But where does this pride come from?

In yesterday's post, we read about the ultimate problem of condemnation, and the fear, envy, and strife which spring forth from it.

Another verse sheds light on what causes this pride:

"15Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever." (1 John 2: 15-17)

What manifests in people who love the world? The pride of life is one of them.

Why do they have this pride? Because ... "The love of the Father is not in them."

Simple as that, yet not easy to rest in.

We need to have a growing, all-powerful revelation of how much our Daddy God loves us!

"9In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. 10Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." (1 John 4:9-10)

Love is not about what we do for God, but about what Daddy God has done for us, and is committed to keep doing for us through His Son.

Now check out what love perfected is:

"17Herein 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 4:17)

As Jesus is, so are we in this world!

When we understand that our Daddy God loves us as much as His own Son, when we realize that all of our sins have been put away, and we are placed in Christ, seated at God the Father's right hand (Ephesians 2:4-6)

He has granted us His own Son's righteousness. We never need worry about shame or condemnation ever again, because Jesus became sin that we would be made the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:21)

When we understand more about God's perfect love for us, that He sees us just as much as He sees His own Son, then we hvae no reason for pride, no reason to seek the esteem or approval of the fallen world--and thus we enjoy an end to strife.