Love and Be Loved

“We though, are going to love- love and be loved. First we were loved, now we love. God loved us first.” -1 John 4:19
 
 
There is something so powerful about knowing that we are loved. The knowledge that we are loved manifests in our lives as confidence, openness, generosity, and many other positive character traits. I wholeheartedly believe that we are at our best when we are loved well!

Something else that’s beautiful about love is that it produces more love. People who ARE loved, GIVE love; and the cycle continues.  

This isn’t a new-fangled, warm fuzzy idea. The Apostle John wrote about it centuries ago in his letter to the Christian believers of the first century. He said that we love because God first loved us. Heck, he said that the only reason we even know what love IS, is that God demonstrated it to us. John goes on to reason that if we know God, we know love. And if we’ve received love from God, that we will give it to those around us.  

How powerful is that? God, the origin of love, embraces us in love and empowers us to do the same to others- even to those who do not yet know True Love. The same positive results that grow from God’s love in us can grow in those around us as we extend the unconditional, radically inclusive, heart-healing love of God to them.  

I challenge you to read 1 John with me this week. Read it, think on it, and look for ways to ACT on it. YOU, my friend, are deeply loved. Rest in that and let True Love produce all kinds of wonderful things in your life- radiance, generosity, peace, gentleness!

 
 
Love,
Pastor Deb