25 February 1 John 4

1 John 4:19(NLT) We love each other because he loved us first.

John explains that God loved us first, as shown by His act of sending His Son to die for us. We did not love Him first, but He loved us.

We can love the Lord because He loved us first. Love comes from God and originates in Him. God loved us while we were still sinners.

Romans 5:8(NLT) But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.

Loving others is the proper response in our life once we have experienced the love of God.

John 13:34-35(NLT) So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”

1 John 4:20(NLT) If someone says, “I love God,” but hates a fellow believer, that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see?

God’s love gives us great confidence because He has removed our fear. This love of God keeps us from condemnation, this is a life-saving love that God has shown us and is what we are expected to show each other.

1 John 4:18(ESV) There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.

1 John 4:21(ESV) And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.

1 John 3:18(ESV) Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.

“We were created in God’s image to do two things on Earth: Learn to love God and learn to love other people. Life is all about love.” -Rick Warren

1 Corinthians 13:13(NLT) Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.

I conclude with Colossians 3:14(NLT) Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.