1 John 4:19 We love, because He first loved us.
No one can boast about their faith or fervor for the Lord. We love Him only because He first loved us and demonstrated His love for us. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). This is a mystery that the pagans and profaners do not understand. Who we are is because of who He is. What we do is because of what He has done. We love Him because He first loved us.
We can never make a sacrifice that can even come close to what Jesus had done for us. We can never serve more than His service to us. Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 1:31). There is a difference between boasting in the Lord and boasting about what we do for the Lord. The latter is just boasting about ourselves; it is using the name of the Lord, which is despicable. The Apostle Paul was an exemplary minister and apologist. He never boasted about the miracles that he performed in one town, in another. Paul never boasted about what he sacrificed to come into full time ministry. He in fact considered all that the world prides and parades about, as dung/worthless. If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee. But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. Everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord (Philippians 3:4-6&8). The love of God is beyond all measures that the human mind can comprehend. We try to measure the love of God with the worldly perishable blessings, wealth and promotion. Nothing in this world can be compared to His incredible, incomprehensible and impeccable love.
Because He first loved us:
1. Incredible: God’s love is incredible as it can never be changed, tampered or diminished. Even when we are faithless, foolish or frivolous He never gives up on us.
2. Incomprehensible: God’s love is unfathomable. Human reasoning cannot support or substantiate God’s grace on our lives. We were doomed for death by our own dreadful sins but His love was demonstrated on the cross to set us free.
3. Impeccable: God’s love is flawless and faultless. No human love can be perfect. The best spouse in this world and the most loving parent would have their own limitations but the love of God is impeccable.
We love Him only because He first showered unconditional, incredible, incomprehensible and impeccable love on us.
Romans 5:11 So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.
Prayer: Father in Heaven, thank you for drenching me in your incredible love. May my boasting be only about You and not what I do for you. Amen.
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