January 31, 2023

GOD IS LOVE

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world. Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love. We love each other because he loved us first.

1 John 4:16-19 NLT

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TODAY’S THOUGHT

John is writing an amazing passage in this entire chapter about love. He lets us know that God is love (v. 8, 16). That means God does not just possess love, He is full of love. Every act of God is an act out of love. He judges sin out of love because He does not want us to be in bondage to sin. Our love grows when we spend more time in the presence of God (v. 17). When I study God’s Word and spend time in prayer my love will grow—love for God and love for others. Because my love grows, I don’t have to fear judgment from God. I personally grew up in a church environment in which everything seemed to thrive on fear. We were taught to act right because if we didn’t God would judge us with something bad happening to us. My earliest views of God were a judge in a black robe with a big hammer ready to hit me on the head the moment I did something bad. I did not hear much about a God that loved me and wanted me to enjoy a life free from fear and free from sin. Fear is a powerful tool Satan uses to keep us in bondage. Love frees us to enjoy the life God wants us to have. When we fully love God, and feel loved by God, we can then begin to love others the way we should.

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TODAY’S PRAYER

Holy Spirit help me to grow in my understanding of God’s love. Help me to accept Your love and to share that love with others.

“Scroll down to share what you feel God is saying based on today’s reading.”