Our daily reflections follow the M'Cheyne Bible reading plan, designed for those who want to read the whole Bible in one year. Each reflection focuses on one of the chapters from that day's readings. Darllenwch rhain yn Gymraeg.
Lord, prepare me to receive your word. Clear my mind and warm my heart. Assure me of your loving purposes for me, and speak into my life today.
Chapter 4 of John's first letter repeats the theme that's at the heart of all Christian living: that God has reached out to us before we reached out to him. Love 'comes from God' (verse 7); love is 'not that we have loved God, but that he loved us' (verse 10); 'We love because God first loved us' (verse 19).
The grace of God is that he reached out and gave himself to those who didn't deserve him. When we allow ourselves to love another person, whether it's a friend, or a spouse, or a family member – the only way we can come close to imagining what the love of God means – we make ourselves vulnerable to great pain if the person we've loved lets us down. In human relationships, this happens very often. In loving us, God knew what he was doing; not just as individuals, but as a human race, we repeatedly fail him. The long saga of the Old Testament tells this story over and over again, and we see it repeated in our own lives. But, says John, this makes no difference to God, because 'God is love' (verse 16).
In union with God, we are transformed into loving people. So we have nothing to fear (verse 18), because 'perfect love drives out all fear'; and the fact that we're loved so completely means we love other people too (verse 20).
God, thank you for your wonderful grace to me, in loving someone you knew would let you down again and again. Forgive me that I haven't responded to your love as I ought, and teach me to love as I have been loved.
This reflection was written by Mark Woods, Bible Society's Editor
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