The Apostle John is referred to as the “beloved” disciple. In many ways, he was the follower of Christ who most understood what it meant to love the Lord. One of the best pictures of John’s love for the Lord is seen at the foot of the cross. John was the only disciple with Christ that day. John is also the disciple Jesus chose to visit with the prophetic words of Revelation. John loved Jesus even while imprisoned on the island of Patmos. John knew, even then, that he was loved by his Lord.

We don’t use the word abide in our daily conversations very often. The word is a verb and means to accept or act in accordance with someone or something. The Apostle John, the beloved disciple, wrote that when we abide in God’s love, we abide with God and he abides with us. John understood what it meant to abide with Jesus, even in the worst of times.

How do we abide with God? We know and believe in the love God has for us. We recognize that the God of the universe adores his children. Christians are loved with a powerful, unending love.

We can draw near to God by knowing and trusting his great love for us. We can know God’s voice by understanding that God desires to speak with us. We can experience God’s love by abiding in his presence. God is love, so everyone who knows God can know his love.

So then, why do we sometimes not sense his love in our lives? The key is in the definition of the word abide. To abide with God is to choose to accept or act in accordance with God. When we don’t act with God’s love, we are choosing not to abide with God. No wonder our prayers can feel like they’re bouncing back at times! We shouldn’t be surprised by our dark thoughts, feelings, and attitudes if we have stopped abiding in the One who is light.

When you feel distant from God, rush to abide in his love and you will rush into God’s presence. Be confident in the belief that you are loved by God and you can be filled with his love for others. 

God is love. John knew that at the foot of the cross and on the island of Patmos. If you want to abide more closely with God, choose to abide in his love whatever your circumstances. God gives his love to you so you can then provide it to others. Abide in God so that he will abide in you. That’s how we come to know and believe in our loving God.

To know God is the beginning of wisdom. To know God is to want to abide in his love.