Daily Devotions with Chaplain Kenny for Tuesday, April 30, 2024: Loved First to Love in Return

 

The Daily Devotional
Tuesday, April 30, 2024

Loved First to Love in Return

We love because he first loved us.
1 John 4:19

Introduction

In the epistle of 1 John, we encounter profound truths about the nature of love and its origin. "We love because he first loved us" (1 John 4:19) serves as a cornerstone for understanding the relationship between divine love and our capacity to love others. This brief yet powerful verse invites us to reflect on the source of all love—God Himself.

Reflection

The notion that God loved us first implies that love did not begin with humanity; it is not something we developed on our own or something that evolved socially or culturally. Rather, love is a divine attribute, an intrinsic quality of God's nature, shared with us. Before we could ever reach out in love—before we could even comprehend what love is—God was already extending His love toward us.

This divine love is unconditional, not based on merit or worthiness but on God’s generous character. It challenges our often transactional view of love, which tends to be based on reciprocity or personal gain. God's love, however, is proactive, not reactive. It does not wait for us to be lovable but pours itself out freely, setting the ultimate example of selfless love.

Application

Understanding that "we love because he first loved us" compels us to examine how we approach relationships in our daily lives. Are our actions motivated by genuine love or by what we hope to receive in return? This passage calls us to model our love on the love we have received from God—unconditional and initiating.

In practical terms, this might mean reaching out to mend a strained relationship without waiting for the other party to make the first move. It could involve showing kindness to those who cannot repay us, or offering forgiveness to those who may not even seem to deserve it, reflecting God's grace and mercy.

Conclusion

1 John 4:19 is not just a reflection on the origin of love but a directive for how we are to live out that love. It is a reminder that our ability to love is not self-generated but a response to the overwhelming love God has for us. As we come to grasp more fully the depth and breadth of God's love, our own capacity to love is deepened and widened.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for loving us with an everlasting love, a love so profound that it precedes any love we could ever muster. Help us to soak in the reality of Your love so deeply that it transforms all our relationships. Teach us to love not out of selfish ambition but as a reflection of Your unconditional love. May our lives bear witness to the love You have lavished upon us, inspiring others to seek You—the true source of love. Amen.

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Devotional by: Kenny Sallee, ThM — Deming, NM, USA
The Bible texts are from the 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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