Today's Verse: 1 John 4:10

Saturday, April 10, 2004

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
Now you can listen to Today's Verse on iTunes, Spotify, Echo devices, and more!

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Love is demonstrated, not just communicated verbally. When the Scriptures tell us that God loves us, they always show God's actions that demonstrate that love. Here, John wants us to realize that God's love goes first. God demonstrates and shares his love with us before we demonstrate our love for him. He doesn't wait till it is safe to love us. He doesn't wait until he will get something in return. Instead, he goes first and defines his love in this way so that we can know that genuine love redeems when all hope seems lost - when we are not worthy, and when we are not ready. God is love, and we know this because of what his love does, had done, and will give to us even before we choose to love him.

My Prayer...

Thank you, dear Heavenly Father, for loving me so extravagantly. Please help me see the opportunities to love others you place in my path every day. Use me, please, dear Father, to demonstrate your love to someone today and the following days of my life. Help me go first with love in my life. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Have thoughts on this devotional? Leave a comment

34 Related Resources by Heartlight

1 John 4:10
Devo: Today's Verse
"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
Devo: Today's Verse
"This is love: not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins."
Now this is love!
Illustration of 1 John 4:10
Image of 1 John 4:10 - In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and gave His Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sins.
Love Shows Itself in Action
Devo: Together in Christ
"God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love — not..."
See All 34 Related Resources about 1 John 4:10

Illustration

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

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Saturday, April 10, 2004

A Year with Jesus
A devotional to help reclaim Jesus as the daily Lord of our lives.
'Can These Bones Live?'
"Dear Precious Believer, My resurrection was a surprise to everyone, including My closest followers. It was a glorious shock to their system in many....."
Praying with Paul
Features the apostle Paul's writings turned into daily, powerful prayers.
'Christ's Love Letter' (2 Co. 2:17-3:3)
"Dear Father, Thank you, Father, that I am not just a peddler of your word, but that I am commissioned by you and that I speak in Christ. Let everyone..."
God's Holy Fire
A daily devotional about the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
'Stubborn People' (Ac. 7:51)
"[Stephen, in his defense before the Sanhedrin:] "You stubborn people! You are heathens at heart and deaf to the truth. Must you forever resist the Holy Spirit?...."
Morning & Evening
The classic twice-daily devotional from Charles H. Spurgeon.
Evening Thought: Isaiah 43:24
"Worshippers at the temple were wont to bring presents of sweet perfumes to be burned upon the altar of God: but Israel, in the time of her..."

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