I John 4:16
And we have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in Him.

God’s love is not an on-again, off-again relationship with believers who put their trust in Jesus. He wants us to abide in His love—even when we don’t feel like it.

The word “abide” means “to be held, kept continually, remain, continue to be present.”

In earlier days in the United States, a person could stake a claim on 160 acres of land. If they stayed on that land for five years, improved it by planting crops and living on it, they received the deed to the land. It was theirs.

There was a condition, however. During those years, they had to personally abide there. They could never leave their claim for longer than six months. Otherwise, they lost their claim to the land.

That’s the kind of abiding in love this passage talks about. Don’t waver in your love for Jesus if you want a relationship with Him. Settle down. Stake a claim. Let Him do the same in your heart and life.

Lord Jesus, I pray to continue in Your love
even when everything in me wants to run the other way
or give up and quit.
Supply me with Your love for others at all times.
Come, Lord Jesus. Stake Your claim in my heart.

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