This is Real Love

This is real love – not that we love God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. – (1 John 4:10, NLT)

True love is God’s love for us, not our love for God. He sent His Son as the way to take away our sins. – (1 John 4:10, ERV)

This is the embodiment of true love: not that we have loved God first, but that He loved us and sent His unique Son on a special mission to become an atoning sacrifice for our sins. – (1 John 4:10, VOICE)

 

Real love, the love that is true from God, is sacrificial and loves first. It is not dependent on whether or not love is returned; it is a choice to answer the calling and command of Christ. Jesus made the way for us to experience the fullness of God’s love, as His sacrifice bore the weight of all our sin and broke down the barrier between us and the bond that enables us to embrace the fullness of our Father’s favor, though we have done nothing to deserve it. True love chose us first, so that we might receive His goodness and grace as they are freely given, and then go and give likewise. May we receive the riches poured out upon us by our Heavenly Father, as He lavishly loves us so that we might truly know Him and in turn love as we are loved.

 

The love that is real,

Does not start with us;

But rather it comes,

From the Lord, Jesus.

The depth and the breadth,

Of His love made known;

Through His sacrifice,

Ultimate love shown.

All sin that has been,

Or will ever be;

He took to the cross,

And bore it for me.

Because of this love,

I too want to show;

His love to the world,

So all hearts might know.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for loving us first, though we deserved it not. Thank You that You sent Your Son to take away our sin and make the way for us to be restored to right relationship with You. Thank You that You enable and empower us to share the very same love with all whom we encounter. Forgive us for not loving others as we are loved by You. Teach us to trust You more, so that we would not limit our love, or place conditions on who or when we extend Your goodness and grace. Show us how to love even the most challenging of people, as You love each of us equally well. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we choose to reveal real love to those around us through our words and deeds, by Your goodness and grace. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

The joy of the Lord is your strength. – Nehemiah 8:10

Real Love

This is real love – not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. – (1 John 4:10, NLT)

This is the embodiment of true love: not that we have loved God first, but that He loved us and sent His unique Son on a special mission to become an atoning sacrifice for our sins. – (1 John 4:10, VOICE)

 

Real love is sacrificial and chooses others first. Jesus came and showed us just how powerful His love is, as He chose to take on all of our sin and shame, and willingly wore them as He hung upon the cross. He who was without sin bore all sin, so that we could know Him, and have life everlasting. There is no greater love than this. Though we are not called to bear the weight of the world’s sin, we are asked to love one another, setting aside our pride and selfish priorities, so that all whom we encounter may have the opportunity to see His love through how we treat one another. May we love because He loved us first, and offer peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness and His hope, to all whom we meet.

 

There is only One,

who shows us what’s true;

His life sacrificed,

so we could be new.

Our sins washed away,

by His suffering;

He willingly went,

for freedom He’d bring.

There’s no greater love,

than the love of Christ;

all grace that He gives,

new hope for our lives.

May we seek to love,

with His love so true;

so all may come know,

how His love breaks through.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You showed us what real love truly is, as You sent Your Son to take away all of our sin and shame so that we might have life everlasting in You. Forgive us for not embracing the grace that You have freely given, or for not extending the hope that we hold to all whom we encounter. Teach us to trust You more, so that we would hold fast to all that we have in You, and in turn, offer the same to all whom we meet. Show us how to love others in such a way, that they too, may come to know the truth of Your great love. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we embrace the love that You give to us, and then go forth and offer the same to others. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present.

I thank and praise You, O God of my fathers: You have given me wisdom and power. – Daniel 2:23