1 John 4:12 No one has ever seen God;but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
This verse reminds me of why relationships are so important. That God lives in us when we are in authentic and loving relationships.
The interesting part about this entire verse to me is the word "complete." I often wonder why God would need us to make His love complete. Then I remembered an old quote, "love was not put in our hearts to stay, love was put in our hearts to give away." I liken this quote to what the verse is trying to tell us, that we must give love in order to complete the mission of God's love. God's love is not a static thing that we can hold on to, rather we are called to give it freely.
God's love is so big that we could never keep it to ourselves, God's love is meant to be shared, and multiplied. The only time when we can fully understand the depth of what God's love must be like is when we pass it on to someone else.
In everything I've read there are two basic requirements to passing on God's love; you don't get to deserve it, and when you give it you can expect nothing in return.
That is the kind of love that God gives to us, and if we are serious about transforming the world that is the kind of love that we need to practice.
It isn't an easy love, but it is complete.
