There is a story that Abraham Lincoln first visited a slave market and bought a slave girl and set her free. She voluntarily served him as a servant but not a slave. She wanted to follow the one who had set her free. True or not, the principle is there.

1 – God loved us first

He loves you just as you are. See Hosea 11:1-4. There are no strings attached. God knows your secrets. He loves you when you are good or bad – unlike Santa! Our relationship with God is dependent on His initial and steadfast love for us. It is a gift from God. God does not give gifts with strings attached.

2 – God loves you too much to leave you where you are

God knows that left to ourselves things will only get worse. This means that sometimes we will get hurt. We will do anything to avoid the pain. It is necessary to bring us to the love of God. We need to leave the baggage behind.

3 – God loves more than just me

God wants us to love others with the same unconditional love. It is like pass the parcel! We are to reach out and touch the lives of others. We need to keep short accounts and forgive those who wrong us. Do we avoid people like the Pharisees or love like the Samaritans? God loves us with infinity. Go and pass His love onto others.

Categories: 1 John