Sept. 20, 2025
Responding to God’s Love
“We love because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:19)
Sept. 20, 2025
Responding to God’s Love
Scripture:
“We love because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:19)
Reflection:
Our love for God is not something we initiate; it is a response. Before we ever sought Him, He loved us. Before we ever turned to Him, He sent His Son to die for us. The cross is the ultimate expression of His love, and our love flows out of receiving that truth deeply.
When we try to love God in our own strength, we often fall into striving and frustration. But when we remember that our love is a response to His, it frees us from performance. The more we grasp His love, the more our hearts naturally respond with love in return.
Spending time reflecting on God’s love — through prayer, worship, and Scripture — stirs up our affections for Him. Love for God grows not by effort but by exposure to His love. When His love takes root in us, it overflows in love for Him and for others.
Prayer:
Lord, thank You for loving me first. Help me to live each day as a response to Your love, letting it fill me and overflow back to You.
Reflection Questions:
How has God’s love been demonstrated in my life?
Do I see my love for God more as performance or as a response?