We love because he first loved us.
1 John 4:19 NIV
We Love
One reason Canadians love Canada is because of their spectacular backyard. Spanning more than half of the Northern Hemisphere, Canada is made up of thousands of lakes, 48 national parks, wide open plains, lush forests and impressive mountain ranges like the Rocky Mountains. Not only is the landscape varied but so is the wildlife. Native Canadian animals include polar bears, Canada lynxes, moose, wolverines (yes that is a real animal), Beluga whales and beavers. Known for being some of the nicest people in the world, Canadians are unapologetically apologetic and extremely polite.
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Being loved is one of the greatest blessings we can receive in life. Those who grow up in a loving family generally express love to others more easily than others, simply because they know what genuine love is all about. This is a Kingdom of God principle. The apostle John, who in his Gospel describes himself as “the disciple Jesus loved,” writes this in 1 John 4:19: “We love because he first loved us.” John grew up experiencing the love of Jesus daily. What a blessing that must have been. To know, through daily experience, that He is deeply loved by the God who created him. We don’t know when John fully understood who Jesus was, but by the time he wrote his Gospel, he certainly did – the first chapter is one of the greatest descriptions of Jesus’ dual nature – both divine and human. Loved by his Creator, John was then able to express that same agape love to others. We also get to experience Jesus daily, covered by His love for us, and as we do, we then can express that love to others as well.
These have been words from the heart.
Bob Beasley