Love Is For Living

“If we love each other, God lives in us, and God’s love is brought to full expression in us.  . . . We love because God has first loved us.”

1^st John 4:11, 19

Notes for Contemplation as You Use this Devotional:

• This passage, sometimes titled “Loving One Another” or “Love Comes From God,” describes divine love’s power to transform you from the inside out, especially when you regard others with love.It also encourages you to remember that God (Higher Power, Divine Spirit, Supreme Being, etc.) loves you unconditionally, with infinite compassion, and enfolds you in ever-abiding grace.
• The John Writer also declares that love is the essence of all you are, the soul purity within everyone. Therefore, each person reflects God’s love, whether they choose to live from this awareness or not. He affirms Jesus the Christ, mystic, master healer, teacher, and wayshower, as the one who most fully expressed divine love.
• Jesus taught, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength. And you must love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:30-31). Notice that this great description of unconditional love doesn’t say you must like everyone or approve of their behavior and choices.  Rather, it encourages you to recognize others as God’s beloveds and treat them accordingly.
• Love is an element of Advent, the contemplative season that prepares you for Christmas. But even if Advent isn’t part of your spiritual practice, you can still regard others with unconditional love and share your love in the world.
• Robert Winterhalter says: “When divine love flows through us, we do not seek to bind or limit another; our love radiates outward to all. He suggests that a consciousness (mindset) of divine love “unifies and harmonizes” people so they foster healthy relationships with others.
• Demonstration is your evidence of how well your life works. Knowing your divinity, that you are loved beyond measure, can be energizing and life-affirming. You may feel an abundance of love already within you and want to express that love in healthy, fulfilling ways.  But that doesn’t mean you must express your love in grand gestures and fancy gifts, which sometimes compensate for a lack of love.  Instead, love can be simple, like offering a helping hand, listening with an open heart, or accepting another’s right to choose what’s best for them, even when the choice wouldn’t be yours.

Contemplation Questions:

As you reflect on your life and circumstances, ask yourself:

• In what ways do I notice and feel God’s love?
  • List, word map, or illustrate all the ways.

• In what ways do I recognize the love others seek?
  • List, word map, or illustrate all the ways.

• What are at least three (3) ways I can express love in my home, workplace, and/or community?
  • List, word map, or illustrate as much as you imagine.

Use this devotional anytime you want to feel and share more love.  As you do, remember to give yourself the love you seek.  Allow time and space to discern what feels loving to you. Affirm often that you are loved beyond measure.  Let your love flow with kindness and generosity, and notice all the wonderful ways love returns to you.

© 2024 – Rev. Jennifer L. Sacks – All rights reserved.

Photo from Shutterstock by PositiveTravelArt.