Synonomous

In his first epistle John tells us: "God is love."

In his gospel he says the same thing just in a few more words: "And we beheld His glory, the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth."

"God is love." "Full of grace and truth." Synonyms. Unless the meditation of my heart, the words of my mouth, and the actions of my life fully reflect grace and truth, both, I do not love as God loves. As Christ loved when He walked among men. And do you think that there is anything that more deeply grieves the Holy Spirit who resides within me than a sham love?

"And we beheld His glory." Unless our lives radiate grace and truth in every way, we are not making His glory known; we are not making the invisible God visible. We are parading about foisting upon the world a god of our own making--a god who looks, thinks, and acts an awful lot like ourselves. I can't think of anything more frightening. Or ineffective in drawing men to our Savior's love.