Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. – 1 John 4:11
First John is a book that highlights contrasts – light vs. darkness, love vs. hate, truth vs. error, living in the light vs. walking in darkness, loving Christ vs. denying Him. It is a book that reveals God through His Son. God is light (1 John 1:5), and God is love (1 John 4:8).
John begins chapter 4 through verse 6, however, speaking of false prophets and the antichrists who were infiltrating the church. He then speaks of the love of God (vv. 7-12). Though it may seem there is a disconnect between the first set of verses and the second, there is not. John writes of the antichrists in the world who were seeking to pull the followers of God back into the world and its activities. Those who love God were encouraged to cling all the closer together to protect anyone subjected to temptation.
The love initiated by God the Father for His created beings should result in a similar response from his children – those who, in faith, love Him. “In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (v. 10). Jesus Christ was your substitute, receiving the wrath of God because of your sins and the sins of the world. Thus, the verse for today is very applicable: “Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another” (v. 11).
The love of God’s people toward others can give encouragement to the heart and mind. Today spread your prayers as a blanket over those who lead and need protection and love.
Today’s Verse: 1 John 4:11
Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: Romans 5:6-11
6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
