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. 1 John 4:9 (NIV)

God is love. Love is part of His character. First John 4:7 – 21 reveals that loves comes from God and that He loved us before we loved Him.

The Lord tells us He loves us, but His love goes beyond words. He demonstrated His love for us. How? John 3 states:

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 (NIV)

Jesus Christ died for us because of His love for us. He didn’t wait for us to clean up our lives or earn the right to be part of His family. That is impossible! God loved us while we were still walking in sin and rejecting Him.

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 (NIV)

This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 1 John 4:10 (NIV)

God loves us even in our doubts and struggles. When I was a teen, I repeatedly asked for God’s forgiveness and told Jesus I received Him. As a six-year-old I had professed faith in Jesus. My pastor questioned me and thought that I understood enough about what I was doing. Later, I wondered how God could love me. I wasn’t anyone special. God knew my bad attitudes and doubts.

I also felt that I didn’t have a good enough testimony. God hadn’t saved me from drugs or from a promiscuous lifestyle—or maybe He did. I was trying to walk my faith part of the time.

It was a long time before I fully believed that nothing would, or could, separate me from God’s love in Christ Jesus. Study Romans for a greater view of God’s adoption of the believer in Jesus (Romans 8:14–17) and of God’s everlasting love (Romans 8:35–39).

* How has God shown His love for you?

When we are loved, it should pour out of us to others.

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love…. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. 1 John 4: 7 – 8, 11– 13. (NIV)

Did you catch that? It’s God living in us, and it is His love in us. We don’t love others all on our own. The Holy Spirit empowers us to love. His power is enough to help us love that person who irritates us, or to show love even though we are tired and don’t want to take the time.

* How do you show love to others? Are there additional ways you can show the love of God?

Here are a few things that I’m trying to implement so I’m more loving. Please share your ideas, too.

• Schedule time with each family member and with friends.
• Send a card or email. Even a short note shows someone that you care. (Maybe I’ll remember to mail one if I put it in my planner.)
• Share Jesus with others. Tell what He is doing in your life.
• Pray for others at the time they share a need.

Let’s reflect on the Lord’s great love for us, and in turn show love to someone.

Dear Lord, Thank you for Your love that is shown through Jesus’ sacrifice for me. Thank you that Your love is never-ending. Please help me reflect Your love to someone today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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Scriptures marked NIV are taken from the NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION (NIV): Scripture taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION ®. Copyright© 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™. Used by permission of Zondervan.