1 John 4:19. Says; “We love because He first loved us.” Beautiful words. Words that breathe refreshing life into any weary soul. “He loved you first.” In this sweet and simple verse, we hear the Father declaring His love for us, right from the beginning of time. A shout through the ages from creation to kings, from wars to prophets, down to the birth of His Son. “I loved you first.”
Our wonderful Heavenly Father is the initiator, and we are the responder. “You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you.” John 15:16. He chose us, we didn’t choose Him. So often we tell the story of how we chose God, when the reality is, He chose you! He chose you way back when you were formed in your mother’s womb and your days were written in His book! God is the initiator; we are the responder.
We don’t give in order to move God to give us more! We give because He has already given a thousand blessings, an abundance of miracles, and the assurance of salvation. He gave first. Our response is to give back out of gratefulness and thankfulness for His generous love. We don’t praise Him to experience His presence. We praise our Savior as a response to His majesty, as a response to His greatness, His mercy, and His grace. Creation responding to the Creator! God is the initiator; we are the responder.
Our motivation to give, to love, and to praise must be a response to the Great I am loving us first. He gives in abundance; He never leaves us or forsakes us! You cannot read your bible long enough, pray enough, or do enough good works to make Him love you more. He loved you first, with a perfect love, a love that knows no bounds, to which there is no end. Should we not fling our arms to heaven and declare our love for Him when we know the depths of His love? Our response should be written into every detail of our lives, in our giving, in our doing, in our praising, and in our living. “We love because He first loved us.”
Reflections
- In what areas of your life do you subtly try to “earn” God’s love instead of resting in the truth that He loved you first?
- In what ways is God inviting you to respond to His first love, with praise, worship, or thanksgiving in this moment? How might your day shift if you saw these acts as a grateful response rather than a duty?
- How does knowing that God chose you first shape your identity and your confidence in yourself today? Write down any fears, insecurities, or striving you might be able to release to Him because of this truth?
Step-By-Step
Take a journal page and title it “Because He Loved Me First, I Will…”
Write down 5–10 simple, heartfelt responses, all the ways you want to love, give, praise, forgive, or serve this week, not because you want to earn the Father’s love but as a joyful overflowing of His love.💛
Claire's Prayer 