“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. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved
us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since
God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” 1 John 4:9-11 (NIV)
showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we
might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved
us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since
God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” 1 John 4:9-11 (NIV)
Henry Drummond
wrote, “You will find, as you look back upon your life, that the moments when
you really lived are the moments when you have done things in the spirit of
love.”
wrote, “You will find, as you look back upon your life, that the moments when
you really lived are the moments when you have done things in the spirit of
love.”
Let’s think a little
more about this issue of love. Think about Drummond’s point: “the
moments when you really lived are the moments when you have” truly loved.
Those are precious moments. Sacred moments. Profound love. Real life.
more about this issue of love. Think about Drummond’s point: “the
moments when you really lived are the moments when you have” truly loved.
Those are precious moments. Sacred moments. Profound love. Real life.
God showed his love
to us by sending his son to die on Calvary for us. The Father’s act of sending
and the Son’s sacrifice on the Cross were both motivated by God’s love for us
not by our love for him.
to us by sending his son to die on Calvary for us. The Father’s act of sending
and the Son’s sacrifice on the Cross were both motivated by God’s love for us
not by our love for him.
So let’s take a step
further and examine our love. If God is love, then why do I grumble and
complain? Why do I rage against the circumstances of my life? Why do I allow
myself to fall into distrust, fear and depression? Why do I allow the love for
Christ to cool down? Why do I act half-hearted and dispassionate in his
service? Why do I ever allow other interests to gain my loyalty? Could others
be influenced by my example of love? Am I expressing my love adequately to my
spouse? To my family? To my neighbors? To my co-workers? To my church family?
Does the quality of love that I show express the greatness of God’s love to me?
further and examine our love. If God is love, then why do I grumble and
complain? Why do I rage against the circumstances of my life? Why do I allow
myself to fall into distrust, fear and depression? Why do I allow the love for
Christ to cool down? Why do I act half-hearted and dispassionate in his
service? Why do I ever allow other interests to gain my loyalty? Could others
be influenced by my example of love? Am I expressing my love adequately to my
spouse? To my family? To my neighbors? To my co-workers? To my church family?
Does the quality of love that I show express the greatness of God’s love to me?
So then, because God
loved us in this unlimited way, shouldn’t we also express unlimited love?
loved us in this unlimited way, shouldn’t we also express unlimited love?
Dear Father, thank
you for your love. Forgive us our failure to truly love one another. Transform
us, O Lord, and empower us to love without limits. I pray this in the name of
Jesus. AMEN
you for your love. Forgive us our failure to truly love one another. Transform
us, O Lord, and empower us to love without limits. I pray this in the name of
Jesus. AMEN
Express true,
unlimited love today,
unlimited love today,