“We love because he first loved us.”
1 John 4:19

We talk a lot about loving God.

Love God.
Love your neighbour.
Love one another.

All important.

But perhaps, before we talk about any of that, we need to notice the order.

God loved us first.

Before we did anything.

Before we understood.

Before we prayed the right prayers or believed the right things or managed to become better versions of ourselves.

God loved us.

First.

Christian love doesn’t begin with us trying harder to be more loving people.

It begins with being loved.

Maybe that’s why receiving love can sometimes be harder than giving it.

Giving makes us feel useful.

Receiving requires us to open our hands.

This week we’re going to think about love in all sorts of ways.

Loving God.

Loving other people.

Loving when it’s difficult.

Putting love into action.

But today we begin here.

Before anything is asked of you, something has already been given to you.

You are loved.

Let that be enough for today.

Carry this today

I don’t begin by trying to love more. I begin by remembering that I am loved.

Prayer

God of love,
before I loved you,
you loved me.
Before I reached towards you,
you were already reaching towards me.
Help me to receive that love today
and let everything else flow from there.
Amen.