We have talked all week about the importance of loving those around us. We have talked about how to love those whom God has placed in our lives and specific ways God has gifted us to love others. As we learn about God’s call to love those around us, it is evident that we cannot love others on our own. We need God's help to sacrificially and supernaturally love the people in our lives so that our love will point others straight to Him.
John explains that love originates from God in 1 John 4. He writes in this chapter, "God is love" (verse 16). Pause for a moment and think about this remarkable truth. God Himself is love. He does not just show love; He is love. The love we experience on this earth is a small picture of God's love for humanity. Every glimpse of love that we experience on this earth points us to God, the One who is, by definition, love.
Experiencing God’s love changes us. It has a profound impact on our lives and leaves us changed forever. In fact, His love compels us to love the people around us. That is why John continued teaching about God’s love in 1 John 4 by saying, “We love each other because He loved us first” (verse 19). God’s love transforms us in such a profound way that we cannot help but show that love to others around us. We love people around us because God loved us first and showed us what it is like to be loved by Him. When we experience His love, we have to share His love with those around us.
My friend, you are deeply loved by God. He went to great lengths to rescue you when you were lost in sin. There is no greater love than His love. Maybe it has been a long time since you have considered how much God loves you. Take time now to reflect on God’s love that He has shown you, not because of anything you have done, but simply because He loves you. Let His great love for you compel you to love others. Ask Him to help you as you set out to share His love with the people around you.
Ask God to give you His supernatural, sacrificial love today. Ask Him to help you love others in the same way that He does. Ask Him to give you a burden for those who are lost and in need of His love. Then, look for opportunities to demonstrate this kind of love when they come.
34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
41 While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, 42 “What do you think about the Messiah? Whose son is he?”
“The son of David,” they replied.
43 He said to them, “How is it then that David, speaking by the Spirit, calls him ‘Lord’? For he says,
44 “‘The Lord said to my Lord:
“Sit at my right hand
until I put your enemies
under your feet.”’
45 If then David calls him ‘Lord,’ how can he be his son?” 46 No one could say a word in reply, and from that day on no one dared to ask him any more questions.
