April 3, 2026

Daily Devotional:

“Resting in the Ultimate Reality”

1 John 4:16

"And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them."

Most of us treat love like a transaction or a fluctuating emotion. We feel "loved" when things go well or when we perform at our best. But John’s letter strips away the complexity to reveal a profound, foundational truth; God is love. Notice that the verse doesn't say God acts loving or feels love—it says He is love. It is His very essence. If God ceased to love, He would cease to be God.

John highlights specific responses we should have for this reality: In knowing it, this isn't just head knowledge or memorizing a verse. It’s a deep, personal recognitionof His character. In relying on it; this is where the rubber meets the road. To rely on His love means to lean your entire weight on it, especially when your circumstances or your own feelings tell you otherwise.

When you "live in love," you aren't just being a "nice person." You are taking up residence in the heart of God. You are choosing to view the world, your struggles, and your neighbors through the lens of a Father who sacrificed everything to bring you close. At its core, 1 John 4:16 is a definitive statement about the nature of God and the nature of a believer's relationship with Him. It moves beyond describing what God does and defines who God is. The verse teaches that God's love isn't a reward to be earned, but a reality to be lived in. To understand 1 John 4:16 is to realize that your security doesn't depend on how much you love God, but on how much He loves you.It’s easy to believe God loves the world, but do you believe He loves you right now at this moment, in your current state? Today, practice "relying" on that love. When a moment of anxiety hits or a mistake makes you feel unworthy, stop and tell yourself: "I am stepping out of my own effort and resting in the fact that God is love, and He is in me."