5/24 Daily in the Word

The Love of God

1 John 4:7-11

In 1 John, the Holy Spirit of God inspired John to give us three declarative statements about the nature of God. In 1 John 1:5 we read that God is light. In 1 John 4:24 we read that God is a spirit. And here in 1 John 4:8 we see that God is love.

God chose many times in Scripture to reveal His love to us. The very essence of salvation is the love of Christ for a lost world. When we comprehend and contemplate the fact that a holy God loves a sinful world, our hearts should fill with gratitude. We need Christ's love.

A grandmother once said to her granddaughter, "Hannah, tomorrow we're going to Sunday school." Hannah replied, "I don't like Sunday school." Her grandma said, "We need to learn about God's love." Hannah then said, "I learned about it enough." "Well," her grandma replied, "I've been going to church all my life, and haven't learned enough." Hannah then said, "Well maybe you weren't paying attention."

We can never learn enough about God or His love for us! His love is infinite! The fact that God, the Creator of the world, would come to earth to rescue a people who despised and rejected Him, shows His love for us!

The songwriter once wrote, "The love of God is greater far than tongue or pen can ever tell. It goes beyond the highest star, and reaches to the lowest hell...Oh love of God, how rich and pure, how measureless and strong. It shall forevermore endure, the saints and angels song."

God loves us all! His love is not restricted to any one group of people, but is offered to all. Unlike Christ, we as humans can sometimes only love certain people. While our world looks to the popular or talented, Christ looks to all and offers us His perfect love.

As Christians, we should be characterized by love. We should, like Christ, look for the hurting or needy and love them. We shouldn't reserve our love for select people, but we should love everyone.

Are you showing God's love to everyone? Christ wants us to love everyone we meet. He loves them, and we must as well! Ask Christ to help you love others today. Ask Him to help you show His love to those around you as you live for Him.

Daily Bible Reading
1 Chronicles 22-24 | John 8:28-59