1 John 4:11
Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought to love one another.
Ever struggle to love someone else?
Husband or wife? Son or daughter? Mother or father? Boss or Co-worker?
We all fail to love other people in our lives.
When we have failed, how can we get up and try again?
When we feel that lack of love, and hear ourselves say that which is unloving, how can we make a change in our speech and conduct?
How can we go from struggling and failing to love others to struggling and succeeding at loving others?
This verse puts first things first.
Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought to love one another
God has so loved us. God has so loved you. God has so loved me.
Put that first.
Many times our lack of love comes because our thoughts are filled with what this other person (who we don’t love) is or is not, has or has not done.
Your mind buzzes and your heart echoes with how this person doesn’t measure up, has wronged you or seems unworthy.
You will never overcome your love lack until you turn this around.
It is not about that other person. Never was. Never will be.
It is about how God has loved you.
Get that to fill your mind.
Take that into your heart.
Let that drop into your soul.
And then you can love others.
In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.