Exploring the Attributes of God: God Who Loves
Day 1: The Command to Love
Scripture Reading: 1 John 4:7-11 (CSB) “Dear friends, let us love one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love. God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent His one and only Son into the world so that we might live through Him. Love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, if God loved us in this way, we also must love one another.”
Commentary
In these verses, John emphasizes that love is not only central to God’s character but also fundamental to the identity of believers. This passage reminds us that the source of our love is in knowing God, for God Himself is love. The love we are called to demonstrate is not a superficial emotion but a profound spiritual mandate rooted in divine nature. As believers, we are compelled to reflect God’s love in our relationships, illustrating His sacrificial love through our actions and attitudes toward one another.
The imperative nature of this command—to love one another—is underscored by the example God set through Jesus Christ. The ultimate demonstration of love, God sending His Son as a sacrifice for our sins, serves as our model. This sacrificial love is not reserved for those who are easy to love; it extends to every believer, regardless of differences. Through loving others, we reveal God’s character and affirm our relationship with Him, showing that we have truly been transformed by His love.
Reflection Questions
- In what ways do you demonstrate love to those who are different from you?
- How does understanding God’s love as sacrificial influence your relationships?
- Are there areas in your life where responding in love is challenging?
- What steps can you take to better love your church community?
Thought of the Day
Love is not optional; it is the mark of a true follower of Christ.
Song: “How He Loves” by John Mark McMillan
Prayer Focus
Ask God to help you love others as He loves you, especially those within the church.
Day 2: Confirmed in Love
Scripture Reading: 1 John 4:7-8 (CSB) “Dear friends, let us love one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love.”
Commentary
These verses articulate a profound truth: our ability to love is a direct testament to our relationship with God. Love is described as both the evidence and result of knowing God. This love transcends mere human emotion or benevolence—it is the tangible proof of our spiritual rebirth and knowledge of God. The absence of this love in our lives signifies a gap in our understanding and connection with God.
Loving others authentically reflects God’s presence in our lives. It speaks louder than words and reveals the depth of our relationship with Him. The transformative power of this love changes not only our interactions with others but also confirms and strengthens our faith. As we grow in our capacity to love, we become living testimonies of God’s spirit working within us, providing assurance of our standing in Him.
Reflection Questions
- How do your actions and words reflect your knowledge of God?
- What role does love play in your spiritual growth and maturity?
- Are there relationships where your love is lacking? How can you change that?
- How does loving others strengthen your assurance in your faith?
Thought of the Day
Loving others confirms the authenticity of our relationship with God.
Song: “They’ll Know We Are Christians by Our Love” by Peter Scholtes
Prayer Focus
Pray for God’s love to be evident in all your interactions, serving as a testimony to His grace and mercy in your life.
Day 3: The Source of Love
Scripture Reading: 1 John 4:9-10 (CSB) “God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent His one and only Son into the world so that we might live through Him. Love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.”
Commentary
Here, John unfolds the divine origin of love, highlighting that it is neither self-manufactured nor conditional. God, being the very essence of love, initiates this relationship by revealing His love through the selfless act of sending His Son. This divine gesture of love is rooted in His nature and exemplifies pure, unconditional love—“agape” love—that seeks the highest good of others without expecting reciprocity.
This supernatural love is beyond human ability to manufacture; it is uniquely God’s. Through His actions, God demonstrates love as an active choice, not a passive feeling. His love compels us to respond likewise—not because we initiated the love but because we have received and been transformed by it. Recognizing God as the source of true love challenges us to extend the same unreserved grace and compassion to others.
Reflection Questions
- Do you recognize God as the sole source of true love in your life?
- How can understanding God’s unconditional love change your approach to loving others?
- In what ways have you experienced God’s agape love personally?
- How can you ensure your love for others reflects God’s selfless love?
Thought of the Day
God’s love is supernatural and cannot be manufactured by human efforts.
Song: “Reckless Love” by Cory Asbury
Prayer Focus
Pray for a deeper understanding and appreciation of God’s unconditional love that you may freely share it with others.
Day 4: Exemplified Love
Scripture Reading: 1 John 4:9-10 (CSB) “God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent His one and only Son into the world so that we might live through Him. Love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.”
Commentary
The apex of God’s self-revelation of love is seen in His sending of Jesus Christ. This sacrificial act is the ultimate demonstration of love—Jesus’s atonement through His life and death underscores the depth of God’s love for humanity. Such love is not just about feelings or words; it’s about selfless action, fulfilling the needs of others irrespective of their worthiness or response.
By giving His Son, God set the standard for genuine love—serving and sacrificing for the good of others. As believers, we are called to emulate this example in our relationships, providing a living testament to God’s love through our actions. This love is our response to God’s grace, compelling us to live sacrificially and extend His love to a world in need.
Reflection Questions
- How does Jesus’s sacrifice redefine what love means to you?
- In what practical ways can you emulate God’s sacrificial love in your daily life.
- What hurdles do you face in loving others sacrificially, and how can you overcome them?
- How does reflecting on Jesus’s love motivate you to love others more fully?
Thought of the Day
Jesus’s sacrifice not only exemplifies God’s love but also provides the foundation for our love toward others.
Song: “The Stand” by Hillsong United
Prayer Focus
Ask for the strength to emulate Christ’s sacrificial love in your daily interactions and relationships.
Day 5: Love Reveals God
Scripture Reading: 1 John 4:12-13 (CSB) “No one has ever seen God. If we love one another, God remains in us and His love is made complete in us. This is how we know that we remain in Him and He in us: He has given us of His Spirit.”
Commentary
Although God is invisible, His presence becomes evident through the love we express. Our love for one another acts as tangible proof of God’s indwelling spirit, manifesting His invisible presence visibly to the world. Love is not only a reflection of God’s character but also a testament to the Spirit’s work within us, binding us in unity and purpose.
As we demonstrate God’s love, we not only affirm His presence in our lives but also showcase God’s reality to a world that yearns for authenticity and hope. Through our acts of agape love, God’s character is revealed, inviting others into the transformative power of a relationship with Him. Thus, our love becomes a powerful witness to those around us, embodying the truth and presence of God in everyday situations.
Reflection Questions
- In what areas of your life have you made God’s invisible presence visible through love?
- How does knowing that God’s Spirit is within you change the way you approach acts of love?
- When has your love for someone opened opportunities to share God’s reality with them?
- How can your community of believers further reveal God through collective acts of love?
Thought of the Day
Our love is the visible representation of the invisible God to the world.
Song: “Love Has a Name” by Jesus Culture
Prayer Focus
Pray for opportunities to reveal God’s love in tangible ways to those around you, making His presence known in your community.