Day 3 - God is Love

Read 1 John 4:7-12

What a beautiful truth that God is love. The magnitude of that three-letter phrase is lost when it is sprinkled into a pep talk or lightly placed in a well-meaning word of encouragement. The statement is profound and deep. In today’s passage, we see that God is love, He is the source of love, He is the one who gives us the ability to love, and in fact, He gives believers a commandment to love one another.

We are not without an example of what that love (agape) looks like. “God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.” As believers, we know well this story of the ultimate sacrifice. Heaven’s perfect plan for the children of God came at the highest possible price. The torture of Jesus Christ and His death on the cross was more painful than we can imagine, it was humiliating, it was undeserved, and it was not fair. Yet God sent Him. God gave Him. Why? It is because God is Love; this is the only way since He is also Holy and Righteous.

It is mind-numbing when we contemplate the depths of agape love. In fact, it is downright difficult when we remember that it was for our sin that our sinless King was crucified. It is also important to remember the rest of the story. God raised His Son on the third day. Jesus is alive! And God made a way for us to live and love. God is glorified! Let us not merely marvel at God’s amazing love. Let us emulate His love. He loves perfectly. He loves sacrificially. He loves faithfully. Let us think of all the ways He loves. Allow Him to perfect that love in you and through you toward your fellow believers. Abide in love.

by Rodney Henderson