"Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love." -1 John 4:8 (NIV)
It doesn’t matter how good or how bad you are at sports. God is love. It doesn’t matter whether you have all A’s or all F’s on your report card. God is love. But what exactly is love?
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails" (1 Corinthians 13:4-8, NIV).
Since God is referred to in the Bible as the very essence of love, this means that God Himself is patient and kind. God does not envy. He is not puffed up with pride. He does not behave rudely, does not seek His own, is not provoked, and does not rejoice in evil.
God rejoices in the truth. He bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things and endures all things. God never fails! Even when you fail, God never fails to love you, His child. So as you go through your day, think about how much God loves you.
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16, NIV).
Live your life in love. After all, “we love because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19).
1. What are some of the ways that God has shown His incredible love in your life?
2. Who else in your life besides God loves you? Your family? Your friends?
3. How have you shown love to others? How can you improve on showing love to others?
Romans 5:8; 8:38-39; Ephesians 5:1-2; 1 John 4:7-21
God, thank You for Your perfect, nonjudgmental love. Help me to be a walking example of this love and show me practical ways that I can love my friends and family. I pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.