April 23, 2009

This is Love

“This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” 1 John 4:10 (NIV)

Devotion:

I was driving my son to school one morning when out of the blue I started wondering what makes him feel loved. I assumed it was when I buy him something, or when I make his favorite food, or when I let him have a friend over. Basically, I figured he feels most loved when I give him what He wants.

I decided to ask him. "Andrew, what makes you feel loved?"

He sat there quietly, thinking. Then he blurted out a surprising answer.

"THIS!"

"This?" I asked.

"Yeah, Mom. This. You being with me. You driving me to school and talking to me about my day. You telling me you'll be there when I get home. That makes me feel loved. Thanks, Mom. I love you, bye!" And he hopped out of the car.

This is love?

You mean I don't have to run out and buy something? Me being there for him is love? Even after I was harsh with my words yesterday prompting him to ask if I was mad about something. Still, this is love?

As I drove away, I wondered if God were to ask me what makes me feel loved, what would I say? Immediately my heart whispered, "Lord, this is love. You asking and caring. You being there. You keeping Your promises like You said You would.”

This is love.

A promise that is kept.
A place that is certain.
Someone who asks.
Someone who listens.
Someone who is present again and again.

We are loved. We don't have to wait for God to show it. He already has! He sent His Son so that we could know Him in an intimate relationship. Then promised He'd always be there for us, and He is. He is present and listening. Asking and caring. No matter what we are going through today, we can live in His love. And we can love from the overflow of being loved. We can know and rely on God's promises and presence, and be made complete in Him.

This is love.

Dear Lord, thank You that You first loved us. Remind us and embrace us and pour out on us Your perfect, completing and unfailing love today. As we think of those we love, and the ways we want to be loved, remind us that we are Yours and we are loved! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

A Love Worth Giving by Max Lucado

Click here to find out how you can share your story and win an all-expense paid trip to the The D6 Conference.

The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman

Visit Renee’s Blog today to find out how you can experience God’s love in a powerful way, and then give His love to others.

Application Steps:

Ask your child, or someone you are close to, “What makes you feel loved?” Then look for simple ways to love them in that way.

Visit Renee’s blog for a powerful way to experience God’s love and show God’s love to others in a way they’ll never forget.

Reflections:

What makes you feel loved by others?

What makes you feel loved by God?

It’s easy to believe God’s love when He gives us what we want, but God showed His love by giving us what we need, Jesus. If you’ve doubted God’s love, tell Him today and then take time to thank Him for His immeasurable love! And, if you’d like to know more about how God demonstrated His love through Christ, click here.

Power Verses:
1 John 4:9, “This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Soninto the world that we might live through him. (NIV)

1 John 4:16, “And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.” (NIV)

1 John 4:17-19, “God is love. When we take up permanent residence in a life of love, we live in God and God lives in us. This way, love has the run of the house, becomes at home and mature in us, so that we're free of worry on Judgment Day—our standing in the world is identical with Christ's. There is no room in love for fear. Well-formed love banishes fear. Since fear is crippling, a fearful life—fear of death, fear of judgment—is one not yet fully formed in love. We, though, are going to love—love and be loved. First we were loved, now we love. He loved us first.” (MSG)