Daily devotional · Along The Way With Him
He Loved Us First
The apostle John teaches that love does not begin with our effort, goodness, or ability to deserve it. Its origin is God. He showed His love by sending His Son so that we could receive life through Him. Before we searched for God, understood His grace, or knew how to love others, He had already loved us.
We love because he first loved us. 1 John 4:19, NIV
The apostle John teaches that love does not begin with our effort, goodness, or ability to deserve it. Its origin is God. He showed His love by sending His Son so that we could receive life through Him. Before we searched for God, understood His grace, or knew how to love others, He had already loved us.
Knowing that we are loved by God frees us from trying to earn acceptance and enables us to love without demanding something in return. His love is not meant to remain only as a comforting thought; it becomes visible when we forgive, serve, listen, show patience, and care for others. We love because we have first received from Him the love we are called to share.
Pause and reflect
Begin today by thanking God specifically for the ways He has shown His love to you through Jesus. Then think of one person who needs patience, forgiveness, encouragement, or practical help, and demonstrate God’s love through a concrete action. Ask God, in the name of His Son Jesus, to remove from your heart everything that does not come from the fruit of the Holy Spirit and to fill you with His Holy Spirit so that you can love as Christ loves.
Today’s prayer
Abba Father, thank You for loving me before I knew how to love You. Thank You for revealing Your love through Your Son Jesus and for receiving me by grace. Heal the wounds and fears that make it difficult for me to love others. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit and teach me to forgive, serve, listen, and love without expecting anything in return. May my life make the love of Christ visible. I ask this in the name of Your beloved Son, Jesus. Amen.