HE FIRST LOVED US

We love^G25 because He first loved^G25 us.

1 John 4:19

All human love is preceded and generated by the love of God.

Vincent, Marvin R., Word Studies in the New Testament, Volume 2, The Writings of John

The only reason we have the capacity to love is because God loved us first. Jesus loved us enough to go to the cross in our place. We love Him in return because of His love for us. After dying on the cross, Jesus rose again and is now interceding for us at the Father’s throne. Everything Jesus did while on earth and now as He is back in Heaven, originated with His love for us. We do not have the ability to love sacrificially like our Lord on our own. Love does not originate with us but with the Lord. The only way we can love others and be a testimony to nonbelievers is to remain in the love of Jesus. We can only love the seemingly unlovable person because Jesus infuses us with His strength.

John 15:5 I am the vine and you are the branches. The one who remains in Me, and I in him, will bear much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing.

Philippians 4:13 (AMPC) I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency].

Take some time to reflect on God’s amazing love and thank Him for enabling you to love Him and others. Perhaps listen to or sing along with “Amazing Love” performed by Phillips, Craig, and Dean. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vf8vwxNzYAk

Father, contemplating Your love makes us want to sing praises to You. Thank You for teaching us how to love and empowering and enabling us to love.