“We love because he first loved us.” - 1 John 4:19

I want to ask you a question today: Do you make others earn your love? It’s easy to fall into this trap, isn’t it? We have expectations for how people should act or treat us before we allow ourselves to love them. But here’s the truth: Jesus loved us before we ever did anything to earn it.

In 1 John 4:19, it says, “We love because he first loved us.” We don’t have to earn God’s love - it’s freely given to us. And because we have received this amazing love, we are called to love others in the same way.

Jesus himself said in John 13:34-35, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Let’s be real - it’s not always easy to love like Jesus. People can hurt us and let us down. But we must remember that loving like Jesus means loving sacrificially and unconditionally. It means putting others before ourselves and forgiving even when it’s difficult.

When we love like Jesus, we have the opportunity to be a light in a world that can be full of darkness. We have the chance to show others what true love really looks like.

So, let’s challenge ourselves to love freely today. Let’s love our friends, family, and even our enemies without expecting anything in return. Let’s love because we have been loved first.

Today I want to encourage you to pray this prayer: Dear God, thank you for loving us so completely and unconditionally. Help us to love others like you do, even when it’s hard. May our love be a reflection of your love for us. Amen.