1 John 4:9-10
In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.

I will never forget the first time I was certain I was in love. I was the mature age of fifteen and ready to understand all of the intricacies of true love. We were out of town visiting friends of my parents and that is when I met the love of my life. She was a senior in high school and a cheerleader to boot. Surely, I thought to myself, this is the one I am to be with for the rest of my life. I could not stop thinking about her. I was absolutely convinced that she was the one and nobody was going to convince me otherwise. However, there was one, all important, factor which I failed to consider…she didn't feel the same way about me…oops I forgot about that all important ingredient. The truth is...none of us ever fully understand 'love' until we understand the love of God . I marvel at how much He loves us. I read about it, I encourage others in it, and I preach about it all of the time and yet every time I think about it or read it again…it is as though I am hearing it for the very first time. And it comforts my heart in the same way that it comforted me the first time I understood such a love. Jesus is our everything because it was through Him that the love of God was manifested (made evident) toward us. Without Jesus we would have such a limited concept of God's love for us. And, here is the best news of all! It was never a 'one way' love. God feels the same way about us…that we feel about Him. In fact He loves us even more because, even when we were unlovable, He loved us first…We love Him because He first loved us. 1 John 4:19. Oh that we would cling to the One who demonstrated true love towards us…thereby teaching us what true love is all about.

Father, we marvel at how much you love us and how it is that you chose to manifest that love. Thank you for your beloved Son. Lord Jesus, thank you for loving us to the point of death. Holy Spirit, thank you for revealing such marvelous truths to our hearts throughout our lives. In Jesus name we pray…Amen!

We must never forget that we live…because Jesus died. It was God's perfect plan for revealing His perfect love towards us. I pray that you would bask in this truth throughout the week and that His love would carry you through anything you may face this week.