February 22: The Love That Finds Us First
1 John 4:19
"We love because He first loved us."
Love That Finds Us in the Mess
I remember a time when I felt completely unlovable. Maybe you’ve been there, too—those moments when you’re painfully aware of your flaws, your failures, the ways you don’t measure up. We tend to think love is something we earn, something we prove ourselves worthy of. But God’s love? It doesn’t work that way.
John’s words in 1 John 4:19 cut through all our self-doubt and striving: "We love because He first loved us." Before we ever whispered His name, before we even considered loving Him back, He was already reaching for us.
Maybe you’ve been struggling to feel worthy of God’s love. Maybe you think you’ve messed up too much. But the truth is, He never loved you because you were perfect—He loved you because you were His. Before you even thought about turning to Him, He was already pursuing you.
Think about that for a moment. Imagine a love that isn’t based on merit or performance. A love that isn’t swayed by mood swings, mistakes, or the opinions of others. That’s the kind of love God gives. It’s relentless, unwavering, and deeply personal.
If this message is stirring something in your heart, take a moment to reflect: Have you truly accepted the love that God is freely giving you? What would it look like to rest in that love today?
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Love That Moves First
I think of the story of the prodigal son—a broken young man, ashamed and empty-handed, trudging home with a rehearsed apology. He expects judgment. He expects rejection. But before he can even speak, his father runs to him, arms open, joy bursting from his heart. That’s the kind of love God has for us.
God didn’t wait for us to clean ourselves up or prove our worth. He loved us in the middle of our mess, before we ever turned toward Him. It’s a love that doesn’t hesitate, doesn’t calculate, doesn’t hold back.
And here’s the beautiful thing—when we truly grasp that kind of love, it changes us. Love like that isn’t just received; it overflows.
So what does that look like in your life? Is there someone you need to forgive? A person you’ve been hesitant to reach out to? When we allow God’s love to move first in our hearts, we find ourselves loving in ways we never thought possible.
Maybe it’s showing grace to someone who doesn’t deserve it. Maybe it’s praying for someone who has hurt you. Maybe it’s extending kindness to a stranger who looks like they’re carrying the weight of the world.
Love isn’t passive—it’s active. The best way we can reflect God’s love is by choosing to love when it’s inconvenient, difficult, or costly.
If this message speaks to you, let’s keep it going. Engage with this post so others can experience the same powerful truth.
Learning to Love Like Him
So what does it look like to respond to God’s love?
Loving God Honestly – Real love isn’t about performance. God isn’t interested in scripted prayers or forced devotion. He wants us—the real us. The struggling, questioning, imperfect us. Loving God means showing up, just as we are, and letting Him love us right there.
Loving Others Bravely – The way God loves us teaches us how to love others—not just when it’s easy, but when it’s hard. Loving the people who test our patience. Loving the ones who have hurt us. Loving without expecting anything in return. Because that’s how He loves us.
Loving Through Action – Love isn’t just words; it’s movement. Jesus didn’t just say, "I love you." He proved it—with His hands, His feet, His sacrifice. True love looks like kindness when no one is watching, forgiveness when it’s undeserved, and compassion that costs us something.
Loving Beyond Comfort – Sometimes, the hardest part of love is stepping outside of our comfort zone. It’s reaching out when we’d rather pull away. It’s serving when we’d rather sit still. It’s being present when it would be easier to ignore. Love is costly, but it is always worth it.
The Love That Keeps Pouring Out
Maybe you’re feeling empty today. Maybe loving others feels impossible. That’s okay. Love doesn’t start with us—it starts with Him. When we feel like we’ve run dry, we don’t have to muster up more love from within ourselves. We go back to the source.
God’s love never runs out. It’s always there, always steady, always enough. And as we receive it—really receive it—we’ll find it spilling out of us in ways we never expected.
God’s love is a cycle. He pours into us, and we pour into others. And the more we give, the more we find ourselves receiving. It’s not a love that diminishes—it multiplies.
We love because He first loved us. And that love? It changes everything.
If this message has touched your heart, consider sharing it. You never know who else might need this encouragement today. Let’s spread the love of God together.
An Invitation to go Deeper….
If today’s message spoke to you, join the FaithLabz 30-Day Prayer Challenge and strengthen your connection with God’s unshakable love. You are never alone—let’s grow together!
