Have you ever felt like love was something you had to earn? Maybe you’ve wondered if you were lovable enough, good enough, or worthy enough for someone to truly care about you. In a world where love is often conditional, it can feel exhausting to try to keep up.
But God’s love is different.
1 John 4:9-10 (NLT) says, “God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.”
Pastor Chris shared, “Love is not attraction. Love is not excitement. Love is not easy. Love is patience, kindness, humility, selflessness, and sacrifice. It’s not about what we get—it’s about what we give.”
That’s what makes God’s love so different from the world’s love. It doesn’t waver. It doesn’t run dry. It doesn’t depend on whether we deserve it. It flows from Jesus, through us, and into the lives of others.
But there’s a catch: we can’t give what we haven’t received.
Pastor Chris reminded us, “The less time we spend in God’s Word, in worship, and recharging in His presence, the less we are able to love others. Just like your phone needs to be recharged, your soul needs to be refilled with God’s love.”
If you’re feeling empty, if it’s hard to be patient, kind, or selfless—maybe it’s because you’re running on empty. Jesus invites us to abide in Him, to remain connected to His love so that it can flow through us to others.
Practical Application:
- Spend time daily in God’s Word, even if it’s just 10 minutes.
- Reflect on the ways God has loved you unconditionally.
- Identify one relationship where you need to show God’s love more freely.
- Practice patience and kindness with someone difficult in your life.
- Thank God for His love and ask Him to help you love others well.
Prayer Prompts:
- Lord, help me to truly receive Your love so I can share it with others.
- Teach me to love with patience and kindness, not selfishness.
- Show me where I have been trying to earn love instead of resting in Yours.
- Help me stay connected to You so my love for others never runs dry.
Click below to listen to the full message from Pastor Chris.
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2285086/episodes/16548891