Lesson 12: To Love, to Be Loved
1 John 4:17–5:3 (ESV) - www.bible.com/bible/59/1jn.4
God’s Words:
By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.
My words:
Loving Father, I praise You for Your unconditional love, and for loving me unconditionally! I’m so grateful Your fully-formed love within me banishes the fear that tries to cripple me – emotionally and spiritually. You have not called me to fear, but to love. But I couldn’t love with Your selfless love unless You had loved me first, and revealed this love to me.
Increase my love for You first, Lord, then increase my love for others. You have put so many people in my life – my family, my friends, my neighbors, my co-workers, my church family. You want to love them through me, loving Lord, and you want my life to reflect You and Your servant-love. I can’t say I love You, the unseen God, when I don’t even love those here on earth I can see.
Lord, I want to prove I love You by obeying You. And I want to obey you out of my love for You, not out of fear or duty. Teach me how to love sacrificially, as You did when You died for me. Show others Your precious love through me.
I love You, Lord, amen.
*Which of your fears would you like God to banish with His fully-formed love within you?