S) "19 We love, because He first loved us."
1 John 4:19 NASB)
O) This chapter explores and examines many facets of this truth, which is summed up simply in te above verse. There are two main elements at work. First, this verse is reflexive. Initially, we are only able to love, because God loves us. That goes back to our created state, that we even were created. It is found in te image we bear, as we are creative because we bear the image of our creative God. The reflex of love is magnified when we have relationship with God, understanding His grace, mercy, compassion, and lovingkindness. Second, this verse is active. Reading this verse in context, we see that love is a command. We are holy, because He is holy first. We are merciful, because He was first merciful to us. We love, because He loved us first.
A) Somehow, I had mostly only ever read this verse in its first facet, that God enables me to love because He first loved me. Reading it this morning, though, I see a much stronger context that this is a command, as much as it could be anything else. I'm sure that has a lot to do with where I am in my spiritual life now, relative to earlier in my faith. In my life today, I am in a position to love more Christians in a real, practical way, than ever before. Certainly, in raising my family, and my sister who is living with us. But also, we are serving younger kids at church (fourth and fifth graders), and that takes effort. Also, being in a life group, I had to learn loving by choice as a reality, because relationships can get messy when they get meaningful. Early in my life in Christ, I marveled at the very ability within me, my capacity to love. I don't want to take that for granted, when loving is easy. It is easy to love my wife, but that is grace from God. It is easy to love my kids, but that is a gift from God, too. Whether it is proactive or reflexive, it starts with God's love.
P) Father, thank You for the grace at work in the love I have. You loved me first, creating me in Your image, also as a creature who loves others. I have not always had the best examples of love, but You have always been perfect in Your example of everything to me. Also, I didn't love You, when You first loved me. In a sense, You made an example out of me, that I could follow that example, to love others. Let me be faithful with this gift of grace You've given me, to love. Be glorified. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.
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