“So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love…”
1 John 4:16 (ESV)
Grab hold of this love, brothers and sisters! God is love, as we read in our above Scripture text (1 John 4:16). One word in this passage reveals the supreme surprise of God’s love – it has nothing to do with you. In this world, others love you because of you, but God loves you because He is God, and it’s His nature to love. He is not human. His love sees your sins and loves you still. Does He approve of your errors? No! Do you need to repent? Of course, yes! But do you repent for His sake or yours? You repent for your sake! You repent so you can continue to enjoy His love and favour throughout eternity.
God’s ego needs no apology. His love needs no bolstering. He could not love you more than He does right now. He is Love! Deuteronomy 7:7-8 (NIV) says, “The Lord did not set His affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples. But it was because the Lord loved you…”
It is because He first loves us that we must also love each other (1 John 4:11). If we don’t, we’re not of God, and we do not represent the affection He has showered on us. Remember, His love is never failing and never ending. He doesn’t want to see us living in slavery (whether to man or thing). As we strive to be like Him, let your love permeate and spread throughout your land and the world.
Prayer
Dear God, You are love. You love me, and I love You. As I love You more, Lord, I am able to love my family, friends, neighbours, and all those who I come in contact with. Help me to be a true representative of Jesus’ love reflecting from me to others; in Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Read: 1 John 4:7; 1 John 4:20-21
Bible Reading Guide: Psalm 20; Matthew 26:69-75; Matthew 27:1-10; Exodus 9; Exodus 10
