The Daily Devotional
Sunday, January 21, 2024
Sunday, January 21, 2024
Introduction
Teresa of Avila, a mystic from the sixteenth century, observes in her writings the natural human inclination to find agreeable means of serving God. She insightfully comments on the common tendency to prefer simpler and more comfortable approaches over complete submission to God. This often leads to a gradual, cautious, and sometimes hesitant progression in fully trusting Him. Teresa acknowledges this journey, noting, "even as we measure out our lives to you a bit at a time, we must be content to receive your gifts drop by drop, until we have surrendered our lives wholly to you."
For many of us as humans, trust is not an instinctive trait. Therefore, if our ability to experience God's grace and love relied solely on our capacity to trust and accept it, we would find ourselves facing a significant challenge!
Reflection
In the scripture of 1 John 4:19, "We love because he first loved us," we uncover a deep and meaningful truth about the nature of divine love and its influence on our existence, a concept further illuminated by the insights of Teresa of Avila. This biblical passage reveals that God's love is the precursor to our own, a love that existed long before our capacity to reciprocate, exemplified by the profound sacrifice of His Son for our sake. John encapsulates this sentiment with a sense of awe and gratitude, acknowledging the essence of true love in verse 10.
Teresa of Avila, a woman of deep faith and contemplation, understood the complexity of human emotions and the challenge of fully surrendering to God's love. Her writings often reflect a struggle familiar to many of us: the difficulty in trusting and embracing divine love wholly. Yet, Teresa’s journey shows us that it is through God’s initial act of love that we find the strength to love in return.
Reflecting on 1 John 4:19, we see that our ability to love God and others does not originate from our own efforts. Instead, it is a response to the love God has already extended to us. This is a love that precedes our understanding, our faith, and even our existence. It's a love that chose to manifest itself in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, a testament to its depth and unconditionality.
Teresa’s life exemplifies this divine love. Despite her initial hesitations and struggles, she grew to recognize that divine love is not earned; it is a gift. It’s like rain that nurtures a barren land, gradually making it fertile. Similarly, God’s love works within us, transforming our hearts and minds, preparing us to fully accept and reciprocate His love.
Conclusion
Reflecting on 1 John 4:19 and Teresa of Avila's life, we are reminded that our spiritual path is marked by a gradual embrace of God's love and a deepening faith. The understanding that we love because God first loved us serves as a cornerstone for our faith, urging us to trust more deeply, diminish our fears, and fully open ourselves to the breadth of God’s love. Just as Teresa found solace and joy in this divine truth, we too are guided gently by God's grace, which heals and prepares our hearts to receive His love. This grace, incrementally imparted to us, helps in relinquishing our fears, leading us to a moment where we are immersed in the vast, beautiful expanse of His love, a testament to His ever-present and boundless grace.
Prayer
Dear Lord, thank You for loving us first and showing us the true meaning of love. Help us to embrace Your love fully, just as Teresa of Avila did, and empower us to extend this love to those around us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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Devotional by: Kenny Sallee, ThM — Deming, NM, USA www.ichthus-dnm.org
The Bible texts are from New Revised Standard Version Bible (NRSV)© 1989, 1993 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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