2-2-2026 | Love Begins With God

“We love because He first loved us” - 1 John 4:19.... 

A lot of us grow up thinking love starts with us… our ability to be kind... loyal... patient... forgiving.... But the Bible flips that idea on its head… love doesn’t originate in human effort.... Love begins with God.... 

God doesn’t merely teach love... He is love....   That means love isn’t first a feeling we chase or a standard we try to meet… it’s a Person we receive.... Before you ever got it right... before you ever prayed the “perfect” prayer... before you ever cleaned up your life... God moved toward you.... Not with a lecture... but with a cross.... Not with conditions... but with covenant.... 

That changes everything.... 

“If love begins with God... then your ability to love isn’t fueled by willpower… it’s fueled by connection.... When your heart feels empty... you don’t manufacture love... you return to the Source.... When you’re tempted to give people what they “deserve...” you remember what you received… Mercy.” 

  When relationships stretch you thin... God doesn’t ask you to pour from a dry soul… He invites you to stay near His love so it can overflow into others.... 

And here’s the tender part… God’s love doesn’t start when you become lovable.... It starts because He is loving.... His love is not a reward for the worthy... it’s rescue for the needy.... He loved you first… so you could finally learn what love truly is. 

 So today... don’t begin with trying harder.... Begin with God.... Sit in His love.... Let it steady you... soften you... strengthen you.... Then love becomes less like a performance and more like fruit.