A Day-by-day devotional

February 14, 2023

Love is me

Chronological One Year Bible Reading Plan: Leviticus 13-14

Scripture of the Day: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

“Let love be your message, let love be your key. Let love be your weapon, for love is me.“ These words are part of what the Lord impressed upon my spirit while I was praying, on the first day of August 2010.

The Apostle John admonishes us to love one another, because it is the ultimate sign that we truly know God, for God is love (1 John 4:7-12). We cannot truly love if we do not know God. Sure enough, we would be able to show love the way that we know it to be. The way the world loves though, is different from the way God loves.

The world loves when it is loved. At the first sign of difficulty, however, the world stops to love. When it is not loved back, the world gives up on its love. That is the carnal way to love and in truth, is not love at all. Real love is loving despite the odds.

We would always have the ways of the world in us as people. We love God but it is because He first loved us (1 John 4:19). However, God loved us, loves us, and still would love us, no matter if we do love Him, we love Him not, or we have given up on our love for Him. The love of God is unconditional. He sent His Son to save not just a chosen few, but the whole world. That includes you, and me.

Oftentimes, our knowledge of a person is what draws or repels us to love. Based on our knowledge and perception of a person, we decide on our love. The Lord, however, has the ultimate knowledge about each of us. He knows everything there is to know about you and me. Yet, He does not base His love on what He knows of us. No matter what He knows, He loves us still.

If God is able to love us as much – that His love for us does not depend on anything that we do, how could we ever resist to accept it? His is the greatest love manifested in His Son Jesus. If we do not know of this love, if we have not readily accepted this love, how could we ever know to love truly?

One cannot give what one does not have. If God is love, we would only be able to truly love if we know God. Unless we know God, we cannot have love. If we do not have love to give, we cannot really truly love, can we?

Reflection: Knowing God is knowing love. And He tells you now, “Love is me“. He invites you to know Him, be in a relationship with Him. How do you respond?

Prayer: Abba Father, how you love me! The more I seek you and draw near you, the more I come to truly know of this love. Your love is a gift, manifested in your Son Jesus. Thank you for your gift. I receive it. I receive Him. Amen.