Love
Rooted in God's unconditional love, find the strength to love yourself and others well.
Scripture on Love
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
John 3:16— KJV
“For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 8:38-39— KJV
“He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.”
1 John 4:8— KJV
“Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.”
1 Corinthians 13:4-7— KJV
“We love him, because he first loved us.”
1 John 4:19— KJV
“That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.”
Ephesians 3:17-19— KJV
“O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.”
Psalm 136:1— KJV
“The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.”
Zephaniah 3:17— KJV
“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”
John 15:13— KJV
“Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations.”
Deuteronomy 7:9— KJV
“But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, long suffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.”
Psalm 86:15— KJV
“Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.”
1 John 3:16— KJV
“Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.”
Matthew 22:37-39— KJV
“The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.”
Jeremiah 31:3— KJV
“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8— KJV
Devotional Reflection
Everything flows from love. The universe was created by it. Humanity was redeemed by it. And you—yes, you—are the specific object of a love so vast that Paul prayed we might have power to comprehend its 'breadth and length and depth and height' (Ephesians 3:18).
The God of the Bible is not a detached deity dispensing rewards and punishments from a distance. He is the Father who runs toward the returning prodigal. He is the Shepherd who leaves ninety-nine to find one lost sheep. He is the God who rejoices over His people with singing (Zephaniah 3:17).
'We love Him because He first loved us.' This is the foundation of the Christian life. You do not earn God's love by loving Him well. His love is the starting point, not the reward. And it is unconditional—not based on your behavior, your consistency, or your spiritual performance.
From this foundation flows our capacity to love others. The famous love chapter—1 Corinthians 13—does not describe natural human affection. It describes the supernatural love of God expressed through people who have first received it.
Be loved today. Receive it fully. Nothing can separate you from it.
A Prayer for Love
Father, let Your love sink deeper into my heart. I confess that I often feel unworthy of it or distant from it. Help me to truly comprehend the breadth and depth of Your love for me. Let Your love cast out every fear and insecurity. And then overflow that love through me to the people around me. I receive Your love today. Thank You. Amen.
Go Deeper
Read 1 John in its entirety — it is perhaps the deepest exploration of God's love in Scripture. Also read Song of Solomon as a picture of God's passionate, pursuing love for His people.