I hope every believer has someone to talk to about spiritual things on an everyday basis. My prophet friend Gary still calls me every morning to share what’s on his mind, and my young friend Andrew has an ongoing conversation with me about the Bible via text messaging. Recently Gary told me to pray for revelation three different times. When that happens, I know it’s the Lord and not just him. 

It’s God’s will to reveal himself to mankind. He does it in various ways, through creation for example, and through the written word of the Bible. He reveals himself in the way he answers prayers, protects, convicts, saves, and redeems. He reveals himself in his law and his righteous judgement of sin. After all, he is holy.

I have long thought that God created the angels to showcase his holiness, and mankind to reveal his love. My limited understanding of him is two-dimensional. I have viewed God’s judgement and mercy as opposite qualities, but this is just immature thinking. I know that I see duality when there is no duality in God at all. John writes, “God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all.” No room for duality there. 

So in a text chat about 1 John with my friend Andrew I wrote, “I wonder if holiness of life is really just love in disguise?”

Selah. Revelation received. 

When we love God, how does 1 John say we know it? Because we live a holy life. When we love God, how does Jesus define it? 

“If you love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15).

I don’t expect everyone to agree with this, but think about it. The best way to show God’s love is by our way of life. When we walk with God, He is our righteousness. When the angels are holy, they don’t do anything they aren’t supposed to. When we walk in the Spirit of God, we don’t either. If we slip, we confess it and get back to a proper way of life. That’s 1 John in a nutshell.

John said God is love, but he is more than that, because he is holy. Maybe holiness and love are really the same thing – but without a revelation of God, we just don’t see it. Do you want to have more of the love of God in you? Confess your sins, and live a holy life. 

Jesus said, “You must therefore be perfect, even as your Father who is in heaven is perfect” (Matt. 5:48).

Bear in mind that the word he used is a medical term that means the baby is born without any parts missing or deformities. It really means that the child is a correct image of the father, not that it is incapable of doing wrong. 

Practice makes perfect, so practice holiness – which is just love in disguise.