2012-12-09 - Reflecting God's Love

The Epistles of John ~ Part 80 ~ 1 John 4

Chapter 4, Verse 11: When we struggle with loving one another, we need to step back and reexamine ourselves, desiring an accurate self-image. As we see how much God loved us while we were in our sins, we can then be motivated to love others. We are certainly no better than they are.

"But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8).

God's love and sacrifice for us, is to be our motivation to love others sacrificially, in turn.

Verse 12: And it is as we love in this manner, that the world can see God's love. Christ has placed us here as His body. It is when we love people, that they have an opportunity to see God. We must never forget that, in all we do as the church, we are representing God's love to a fallen world. We must consider all our actions in light of the question, does this decision show God's love to the world around us?

To be continued.

GKragen@aol.com
http://www.cfdevotionals.org

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