Today's Verse: 1 John 4:19

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

We love because he first loved us.
— 1 John 4:19
Now you can listen to Today's Verse on iTunes, Spotify, Echo devices, and more!

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

John wants us to realize that our love doesn't originate in us. We love others because God has first loved us in Jesus. Oh yes, God has loved us in many other ways, but loving us in Jesus is the ultimate love. Our Heavenly Father taught us how to love by sending Jesus. Our Abba Father has given us security and confidence with his love for us so that we can love others more fully, with greater openness. Our Holy and Almighty God has loved us boldly and sacrificially so that we can more fully understand and define true love. We are not the source of love: God is. We are not the great example of love: Jesus is. We tend to be careful and share our love only with those we feel safe to share it with; God's love, however, is expansive and open to all. We know and share love because God loved us first. And because he loved us, we must love others.

My Prayer...

Forgive me, Righteous Father, for the times that I have been careful and guarded with my love for others. Please help me to love others as you have loved me. I ask especially for today, that I might touch someone's life with love that especially needs it, whether they respond favorably to that love or not. And then, after I do it today, in Jesus' name, I pray for your help to do it again and again and again - to love others more fully as you have fully demonstrated your love to me. Amen.

Have thoughts on this devotional? Leave a comment

14 Related Resources by Heartlight

1 John 4:19
Devo: Today's Verse
"We love because he first loved us."
1 John 4:19
Devo: Today's Verse
"We love because he first loved us."
Spurgeon AM Devo for Jun. 11th
Devo: Morning & Evening
"There is no light in the planet but that which proceedeth from the sun; and there is no true love to Jesus in the heart but that which cometh from the..."
First Loved
Illustration of 1 John 4:19
Inspirational illustration of 1 John 4:19 -- We love because he first loved us.
See All 14 Related Resources about 1 John 4:19

Illustration

Illustration of 1 John 4:19 — We love because he first loved us.

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Wednesday, August 19, 2009

A Year with Jesus
A devotional to help reclaim Jesus as the daily Lord of our lives.
'Undaunted!'
"Dear Faithful Follower, Yesterday, I asked you to read about the paralyzed man that I healed through Peter and John. I wanted you to see the..."
Passion for Praise
A daily passage of Scripture emphasizing praise to our God.
'There is No Other!' (Is. 45:18)
"For the Lord is God, and he created the heavens and earth and put everything in place. He made the world to be lived in, not to be a place of empty..."
Quotemeal
A daily dose of Christian quotes to inspire and encourage.
Quote by Richard DeHaan:
"Only those whose souls have struck the deepest notes of penitence can reach the highest notes of praise."
Praying with Paul
Features the apostle Paul's writings turned into daily, powerful prayers.
'Earnest Caregiving' (2 Co. 8:16-23)
"Dear Father, to whom all honor is due, Thank you for the earnest care you put into the heart of people like Titus. Thank you for people who respond....."

About This Devotional

Today's Verse is a free daily devotional that includes a Bible verse, thought and prayer.

The Thoughts and Prayer on Today's Verse are written by Phil Ware.

All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.

More Today's Verse