Freely Loving Like Jesus
"We love because he first loved us." - 1 John 4:19
I want to ask you a question today: Do you make others earn your love? It’s easy to fall into this trap, isn’t it? We have expectations for how people should act or treat us before we allow ourselves to love them. But here’s the truth: Jesus loved us before we ever did anything to earn it.
In 1 John 4:19, it says, "We love because he first loved us." We don’t have to earn God’s love – it’s freely given to us. And because we have received this amazing love, we are called to love others in the same way.
Jesus himself said in John 13:34-35, "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
Let’s be real – it’s not always easy to love like Jesus. People can hurt us and let us down. But we must remember that loving like Jesus means loving sacrificially and unconditionally. It means putting others before ourselves and forgiving even when it’s difficult.
When we love like Jesus, we have the opportunity to be a light in a world that can be full of darkness. We have the chance to show others what true love really looks like.
So, let’s challenge ourselves to love freely today. Let’s love our friends, family, and even our enemies without expecting anything in return. Let’s love because we have been loved first.
Today I want to encourage you to pray this prayer: Dear God, thank you for loving us so completely and unconditionally. Help us to love others like you do, even when it’s hard. May our love be a reflection of your love for us. Amen.
I want to ask you a question today: Do you make others earn your love? It’s easy to fall into this trap, isn’t it? We have expectations for how people should act or treat us before we allow ourselves to love them. But here’s the truth: Jesus loved us before we ever did anything to earn it.
In 1 John 4:19, it says, "We love because he first loved us." We don’t have to earn God’s love – it’s freely given to us. And because we have received this amazing love, we are called to love others in the same way.
Jesus himself said in John 13:34-35, "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
Let’s be real – it’s not always easy to love like Jesus. People can hurt us and let us down. But we must remember that loving like Jesus means loving sacrificially and unconditionally. It means putting others before ourselves and forgiving even when it’s difficult.
When we love like Jesus, we have the opportunity to be a light in a world that can be full of darkness. We have the chance to show others what true love really looks like.
So, let’s challenge ourselves to love freely today. Let’s love our friends, family, and even our enemies without expecting anything in return. Let’s love because we have been loved first.
Today I want to encourage you to pray this prayer: Dear God, thank you for loving us so completely and unconditionally. Help us to love others like you do, even when it’s hard. May our love be a reflection of your love for us. Amen.
Free Email Devotional - Sign Up Now
Recent
Archive
2026
January
When Prayer Feels Like Bad ReceptionTeach Us to Pray AgainRelationship Over RequestsPulled Toward HeavenWhen God Says No, Slow, Grow, or GoPray Bigger PrayersPray Without Ceasing in Real LifeWhen Persistence Feels PointlessWhen Darkness Reacts to LightWorship as WarfareChains Fall in His PresenceNot Who I Used to BeWhen God Reveals the BattleNo Fear in the Presence of PowerSet Free to WorshipVictory Is NowWhat You Love, You ShareGod Has a Brag Book, and You’re in ItThe Moment You Missed and the Mercy That RemainsBetter Today Than YesterdayAvailability Over AbilityThe Search for SignificanceWhen God Sets Up the MomentExplain the Hope Within YouThe Gospel Starts Where People AreSalt Has to Leave the ShakerWhat Defines You Determines YouYou’re Richer Than You RealizeThe Quiet Sin No One ConfessesYou Can’t Serve Two MastersThe Token That Stopped Spending
February
A Prophetic EarLearning the Voice You Hear Every DayAdopted, Not ToleratedThe Same Spirit Lives in YouWhy Jesus Chose DependenceExisting Versus Truly LivingWhen God Interrupts Your RoutineConviction Calls You Up, Not OutHe Who Gets the Son Gets It AllLet the Word Get in YouThe Book You Never FinishWhen You Finally Taste What’s BetterGod Is Speaking Every Time You Open the BibleFreedom Comes from Knowing the TruthThe Holy Spirit Works with What You StoreYou Might Be the Only Bible They ReadThe Word You Read Today Might Be for Someone Else TomorrowA Love Letter, Not a Rule BookFaith That Moves Without ProofWhen Desperation Strips Away DignityTrusting God in the SmokeThe Miracle Was Not Just for YouWhen Familiarity Kills ExpectationThe Timing of God Is Never AccidentalA Savior Who Shows Up to Ordinary MomentsWhen the Wine Runs OutTake It to Jesus FirstDo Whatever He Tells You to Do
2025
January
Why Me?Ordinary but ChosenYour Past Prepares You for God's FutureWhy Not Me?The Burden of PreparationIt’s Bigger Than YouJust Show UpAnchored in PrayerBreakthrough Was Always God's PlanWaiting on Your BreakthroughTransformative Power of PrayerThe Art of PrayerThe God of BreakthroughKryptoniteLifelineThe Dare of DependenceWho Needs Your Prayers?Soaring in PrayerObedience Through PrayerThe Power of Prayer in Overcoming TemptationIs Your Heart Prepared for God's Mighty Work?The Joy of SimplicityPatient in Affliction, Faithful in PrayerBurning PrayersWhile You Wait...He WorksChoosing His Will with Free WillEquipped for Victory: Overcoming Sin from WithinEverydayThe Great I AMSaying Yes to GodOrdinary People, Extraordinary God

No Comments