Respond

"We love because he first loved us."  
1 John 4:19 (NIV)

Have you ever received a gift so meaningful that words couldn't capture your gratitude? Maybe it was a sacrifice someone made for you, or perhaps it was just the right card at just the right time.

Nothing compares to the greatest gift ever given—God's love demonstrated through Jesus Christ. While the New Testament overflows with descriptions of God's love for you, there are surprisingly few passages about your love for God. Why? Because your love is simply a response to His initiative.

1 John 4:19 teaches you that God doesn't wait for you to make the first move. He doesn't stand back with folded arms saying, "Love me first, then I'll love you." Instead, He pursues you while you’re still running away. Romans 5:8 reminds you that Christ died for you while you were still a sinner—not after you cleaned up your act.

This pattern of God’s initiative and your response sets Christianity apart from every religion. You aren't climbing toward an impersonal force; you're responding to a personal God who came for you—and comes for you again and again.

Take a moment to consider: How are you responding to God's incredible love today? Are you merely acknowledging it intellectually, or are you allowing it to transform how you treat others, approach difficulties, and make decisions?

Your capacity to love others flows directly from your recognition of how deeply you've been loved first. Receive and respond right now.

Prayer: Father, thank You for loving me first, when I was still lost in sin. Help me respond to Your love not just with words but with my whole life. May my love for others reflect the unconditional love You've shown me. In Jesus' Name, Amen.