“It is true that no human being has ever had a direct vision of God. Yet if we love each other God does actually live within us, and his love grows in us towards perfection. And, as I wrote above, the guarantee of our living in him and his living in us is the share of his own Spirit which he gives us.” (I John 4: 12-13, JB Phillips New Testament)

What is our proof of God? How do we know that he is present and that we are made in His image and likeness? How do we gain a sense of the tangible presence of God enough to trust that He is here with us, His power preserving us?

It is by love. The love that we share with others is the expression of His activity. God is Love, so love felt and expressed is the evidence that He is present and active. God is Love and He is also Life. These two qualities are inseparable. We can’t have one without the other. As we love with the pure love of God, receive of His love and put it into practice, so do we truly live. Our lives expand to their full size and scope and satisfaction—the unconfined life that is not mere human existence but divine, infinite freedom and goodness and joy.

This sharing of “his own Spirit” which is freely given to us is our own necessary growth in grace. As we use this Spirit of love that He has never denied to us for a moment, we find not only peace, but we find ourselves. As we attempt to utilize anything less than love, our lives feel stagnant, confused, unsatisfying. When we refuse or qualify the life-giving properties of divine Love, we push away our most natural and good life for one that is not ours at all, that does not suit us. Our Father has seen fit to equip and embrace us with infinite love for our own good and the good of others!

Let’s receive and give the love of Love freely and confidently. Let’s bear witness gladly to God’s own loving nature and find our own lovely and lovable life in the process!

This is today’s e-inspire. These messages are based on passages from the Bible and Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, by Mary Baker Eddy. These books are our “pastor” in Christian Science. Come back every Tuesday and Thursday for fresh inspiration. Or get a free subscription to receive an inspirational message like this one every morning directly to your inbox by contacting me at lamolitercs@aol.com. A downloadable compilation of categorized messages is also available by request.