Love…

1 John 4:19 NKJV “We Love him, because he loved us first.”

1 John 4:19 NIV “We love because he first loved us.”

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

God is love and created love.

He is the ultimate example of love!

Shocking as it may seem, we didn’t choose to give our hearts and lives to the Lord. He chose us!!! Let that truth sink in! The God of the universe placed his spirit of love in your heart so that one day you would recognize that still, quiet voice leading you closer to him.

I included three translations of this particular verse. The first one is The New King James Version. The second two are the New International Version and New Living Translation. The second and third translations take the context further by recognizing God is the author of love. Our spirits and hearts are finely tuned to love not only God but each other.

This is where it gets dicey!

We are a fickle brood, and our love often runs parallel to the love we receive. Duh! But Wait…is that how the Lord intends for it to be?

1 Peter 4:8 NIV “Above all, love each other deeply because love covers over a multitude of sins.”

“Covers over a multitude of sins” as in burying them under a blanket of love! I told you it gets more challenging!

Yes, that’s precisely what the Lord’s love means, that is exactly what we receive from his love and what he expects from us to others.

We are human. We will make mistakes, speak wrong words, misbehave, stumble and fall! We will intentionally and unintentionally hurt with our words, attitudes, and pride.

We are children of The Lord Most High, expected to recognize our behavior, repent and apologize.

Remember, we are to love because we follow he who is love, and we are to forgive as he forgives us!

From the cross where Jesus hung came this prayer!

Luke 23:34 NLT “Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.’ And the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice.”

An excellent example for us to follow!!! Very hard to achieve as it’s opposite to the world’s ways. It takes much prayer and desires to walk in peace rather than discord!

Matthew 5:44 NIV “But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”

Maybe, just maybe, if we try each day to love the way Jesus loves, we will walk much freer and lighter, and those around us might notice and start doing the same thing! Who knows what trickle effect we might have?

Be blessed, try and be a blessing and thank you for spending some time in Sunshine. ☀️❤️😌