“God is love” (1 John 4:10). Love is not just part of what God does. It is who God is at his very core. It is his essence. But how do we know? He showed his love among us by giving his Son (1 John 4:9)— Jesus, who is God in the flesh. We might say then that Jesus is “love with skin on.” He makes God known by putting on human flesh, wearing skin, and becoming fully human. The same might also be said about you and me. We are the body of Christ, the visible representation of Jesus in the world. Yes, just as much as Jesus is “love with skin on” so are we.

As we finish our look at John’s first letter, we want to shift our focus outward to those who do not yet know Jesus. What letter can we write with our words and actions so that others can have the same confidence in Christ that we have? Our welcome to those who are guests at Mount Lebanon is one way that we can be “love with skin on.” Our life in the world is another way. What does our letter say? What does our life show? God showed us his love by putting skin on it. May he help us do the same!