The apostle John writes these simple, weighty words in 1 John 4:11: “Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.”

Notice how it starts — Beloved.

Before John tells us what to do, he reminds us who we are. Loved. Fully. Completely. Without reservation.

God didn’t wait for us to get it all together. He didn’t love us halfway or conditionally. He loved us first, loved us fully, and loved us sacrificially. The cross settled that forever.

And here’s the front-porch truth:

The love God pours into us is never meant to stop with us.

It’s meant to spill over into our marriages, our friendships, our churches, and even into the difficult relationships we’d rather avoid. Loving others isn’t about personality or preference — it’s about reflection. We love because we’ve been loved.

Some days loving others feels hard. But on those days, we don’t dig deeper into our strength — we lean deeper into His love. When we remember how much grace we’ve received, love becomes less of a burden and more of a blessing.

So today, love someone on purpose.

Not because they earned it — but because God already loved you first.

Friend, there are days when life whispers lies to our hearts. Days when circumstances say, “You’re alone.” Days when failure says, “You’re finished.” Days when fear says, “God must be far away.”

But then Romans 8:39 speaks up—and it doesn’t whisper. It declares: “Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

I love that. Paul looks in every direction: up, down, around and says, Nothing can break this bond.

Not your past.

Not your weakness.

Not your bad day.

Not even your worst moment.

God’s love is not fragile. It doesn’t pull back when you stumble. It doesn’t loosen its grip when life gets heavy. It doesn’t run out when your faith feels small.

There’s no height you can climb where His love can’t reach you.

There’s no depth you can fall where His love won’t find you.

You may feel worn down today. You may feel uncertain. You may feel like you’re barely holding on. But here’s the good news: You’re not holding on to God nearly as tightly as He’s holding on to you.

So take a deep breath. Sit with this truth for a moment. Let it settle into your soul.

Nothing can separate you from His love.

Not today. Not ever.

And that kind of love?

That’s strong enough to carry you through whatever comes next.

Jesus said in John 15:13, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”

Now we hear that verse a lot, but sometimes we forget just how personal it really is. Jesus wasn’t speaking in poetry alone. He was speaking in preview. He was telling His friends what kind of love they were about to witness with their own eyes.

Greater love isn’t louder words or bigger promises. Greater love is sacrifice. It’s choosing someone else’s good over your own comfort. It’s showing up when it costs you something. It’s staying when walking away would be easier.

And here’s the part that still takes my breath away. Jesus didn’t just say this about “good people” or “perfect friends.” The Bible tells us He laid down His life while we were still flawed, still struggling, still learning how to love back. He knew our weaknesses, our failures, our future mistakes—and He chose the cross anyway.

That means you are not loved because you’ve earned it. You are loved because He decided it.

So today, if you’re feeling unseen, unworthy, or worn down, let this truth settle into your soul: the greatest love in the universe has already been demonstrated on your behalf. You don’t have to prove yourself to it. You don’t have to chase it. You just have to receive it.

And when that kind of love takes root in your heart, it changes how you love others. We forgive more freely. We serve more willingly. We give more generously. Not because we have to—but because we’ve been loved greatly.

Friend, rest in that love today. Sit with it. Let it steady you. Greater love has already found you.