Day 1 – Loved first

“This is the second: ‘You shall [unselfishly] love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:31 (AMP)

Is it possible to love like God expects us to love? A question has been stirring in my heart for some time now.

If we evaluate our behavior towards others, would it be unselfish? Can we honestly say that we love others as God instructs us to? Should we not evaluate self-love first in order to answer this?

I’ve concluded that we cannot have this kind of love, not with our own capacity and sinful nature. So, why would God expect us to?

1 John 4 verse 19, we learn that God loved us first. The love we receive from Him should be given to others since He is the source. Loving ourselves should not be a condition in order to love others.

“We love each other because he loved us first” 1 John 4:19 (NLT)

God merely requires us to give what we already received – unconditional love.

For today, evaluate your love toward others and be honest. Are you giving the love of God to those around you? Does your love have any limitations?

Prayer: Father God, thank You that You loved us first. This unconditional love we received through Jesus on the cross equips us to give this love to others. Help us through Your Spirit to determine why we are unable to show this love to everyone and not merely the ones we’ve selected. Amen.

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