1 John 4:10-12 “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. The love of God is an amazing thing. We value love. In Luke 6:32, Jesus says, “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them”. Even sinners love at some level. God’s love is on a higher plane. Love is described poetically in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 “Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” Our culture sees love as romantic and puts it on greeting cards. This is part of it, but it goes much further than romance. It’s hits the other extreme where Mother Teresa lived. She went into the most desperate situations and loved. Love goes to desperate places. Mother Teresa ministered to the lost of society in Calcutta. Many of these had HIV/AIDS. Some contracted this by drug use, others by unsafe sex, etc. These had addictions out of control. The ache within drove them to participate in harmful behaviors that they probably wouldn’t have done in their right minds. These acts put themselves and those that depend on them at risk. If these are breadwinners and caregivers, then those relying on them are in need. This is not very poetic. A camera brought to these dark places could make some ill. That’s where she ministered. God’s love goes there. There are places in all of us inwhich there is guilt and shame. It’s like our own personal Calcutta. We may look fine on the outside, but we may have desperation within. We think if others knew of this, then others would veiw us differently or maybe reject us. God’s love meets us there. He uses people to express His love. We confide in them and they are with us through our dark times. God’s love reaches out to the mean. Jesus said on the cross, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” We will encounter plenty of mean people. We rarely take them into our inner circle, but we can love them. We can also be the offender, who needs the love. There is a great specialness in this verse. It says, “No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.” Seeing God would be an incredible priviledge. That won’t happen until Heaven. However, John gives a close second by saying that God lives in the loving christian. Millions are living with God in them. We don’t understand the gravity of this. We could compare this to being a close friend with a celebrity or possibly a great historical figure (Abe Lincoln, …). Lord, thank You for Your love. Thank You that it has reached us and changed us. Help us to love others. Helps us to bask in, fellowship with You within us.