1 John 4:7-21

Be Still: Lord, open my eyes to see the depth of your love for me.

Read: 1 John 4:7-21
We love because he first loved us. (v 19)

Encounter: Immediately before writing this, I went to make a cup of tea, only to find there was no milk left in the fridge -- I hate when that happens. What made it worse was knowing I had bought milk two days ago, but I wasn’t the one who finished it today. Naturally, my frustration turned toward my housemates.

Today’s reading is about loving one another -- not just any love, but agape love, unconditional love. And here I am, faced with a passage on unconditional love while my heart is full of irritation. Cue conviction.

It’s hard to love people sometimes — especially when they use all the milk — but this passage challenges us to love on all occasions. Why? Because our love for others isn’t rooted in their actions, it’s a demonstration of our love for God.

I am called to love my housemates, even when they finish the milk, because I love God. And God asks me to show my love for him by loving them.

Love for God is demonstrated in love for one another.

Challenging, isn’t it? But as the passage continues, the encouragement outweighs the challenge in the climactic verse: ’We love because He first loved us’.  

Love for God is a natural response to the love of God.

So, if you’re struggling to love the people in your life and it’s left you feeling like you’re not doing a great job of loving God right now, the solution isn’t to try harder or be better. The answer lies in getting a fresh revelation of God’s incredible love for you. 

Apply: Note down any people you are struggling to love at the moment and pray God will help you.

Devote: Holy Spirit make your love fresh to me today, that I might love others.