“WE LOVE BECAUSE CHRIST FIRST LOVED US”

“WE LOVE BECAUSE CHRIST FIRST LOVED US”

Monday, February 14th, 2022

SCRIPTURE:

9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. … 19 We love because he first loved us.

– 1 John 4:9-12, 19 (NIV)

THOUGHTS TO PONDER:

Today is Valentine’s Day, a day identified by the word “LOVE”. GOD LOVES YOU!!! Every Sunday in worship, every day throughout the week, we are (hopefully) proclaiming the love of Jesus Christ in our words and how we live our lives. Yes, we as ministerial leaders need to not only share these words, but we need to hear these words too. So again, I invite you to hear these words … GOD LOVES YOU !!!

As each of you know all too well, the day and life of a pastor can be filled with a myriad of emotions and expectations, activities and programs, joy-filled moments and trying moments, all of which invite us to be reminded of the fact that we are not alone. God is with us. His mercy and love endure forever and ever.

When was the last time you heard someone say to you, “GOD LOVES YOU”? Again, we often proclaim those words to the people within our churches. However, how often have you found yourself truly reveling in the truth of God’s Great Love … for YOU … personally?

FOR FURTHER REFLECTION:

According to 1 John 4:19, “We love because Christ first loved us.” Sometime this week, be encouraged to reflect upon your earliest recollection of God’s love for you personally. Before anything you’ve done or left undone, even while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. That proves God’s great love for us. Thanks be to God!

When are you most aware of God’s Great Love for you? Where are you? Who are you with, if anyone? What are you doing? What time of day is it? Again, sometime this week, be encouraged to position yourself before God, making yourself fully available and vulnerable to the love of God in your own time and space. Remember, God’s calling upon your life is (first and foremost) into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. “We love because Christ first loved us.” We serve others, we love others, we give to others, we share of God’s love, ALL because Christ first loved us. Let that soak in for a while. GOD … LOVES … YOU … (now read this again if you have it)

PRAYER:

Heavenly Father, Thank you for your Great Love for me. Jesus, Thank You for Your Great Love for me. Holy Spirit, Thank You for Your Great Love for me. Lord, I Praise You for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. As You have called me and set me apart to serve You by serving others, remind me of Your great love for me always. And may I never take for granted such a gift. I pray in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. – AMEN.

RESOURCE:

Book by A.W. Tozer entitled God’s Pursuit of Man

“Salvation is from our side a choice, from the divine side […] a conquest of the Most High God.” – A. W. Tozer

Book by Thomas Nelson entitled: You Are Loved