Real Love

Soulmates. BFFs. Whether we’re talking about romantic love, loving friends, or love between family members, the world has all sorts of ideas about what love is, and sometimes those ideas are unhelpful.

In the Bible, we’re told very clearly what love is. In today’s passage, John tells us “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”

God has given us the ultimate example of what love looks like. We didn’t love God – we rejected and disobeyed him. Even then, he sent his only Son to die for us so that we might be made right with him. He loved us even when we didn’t love him and even though it came at a great cost.

John also says that God himself is love. This means that love is part of who God is; it’s part of his identity. God will always act in a loving way. In Luke 11, Jesus describes God as a father who always listens to us when we pray to him. In Romans 8, Paul explains that God is always working for the good of those who love him.

God is love, and God has shown us what love is: self-sacrificing and unconditional. God’s love is a blessing to us in all areas of life, and he wants us to treat others, and others to treat us, with that same love, care, and generosity.

Questions:  

1. God loves you so much that he sent Jesus to die for you. How does that make you feel? How should it make you feel?  
2. If God loved you even when you didn’t love him, how do you think you should treat people you don’t get along with? See what Jesus says about this in Matthew 5:44.  
3. Verses 17–18 in today’s passage tell us we don’t need to fear judgement because God loves us and Jesus has saved us. Do you know someone who needs to hear that message?

Prayer:

Loving Father, thank you for loving me, even when I disobey you. Please help me to love you by listening to you and loving others, even when it’s hard. Thank you for showing me the ultimate example of love in sending Jesus to save me. Amen.