“We love him, because he first loved us.”

Sometimes, we get it backwards.

We think we’ve got to earn God’s love—like He’s holding a scoreboard in the sky, waiting to see if we finally get it right. But 1 John 4:19 pulls back the curtain and reminds us of this simple, soul-settling truth: “We love him, because he first loved us.”

Before you ever opened a Bible…

Before you ever set foot in a church…

Before you ever whispered a prayer or even knew His name…

He loved you.

Not because of what you could do for Him…

Not because you were good…

But because He is good.

And friend, that kind of love changes everything. It’s not a reward—it’s a revelation. When you really see it, you can’t help but respond. His love becomes the fire in your bones, the peace in your storm, the anchor for your soul.

So stop striving. Stop trying to earn what’s already been given. You are already loved. Fully. Freely. Forever.

Just let that sink in today:

The God of the universe went first…

Now you get to live loved.

And when you live loved—you can’t help but love back.