First Comes Love - Day 04
Day 04 - Thursday, April 11
Read 1 John 4:7-21
Highlight
The word for “love” throughout these verses is agape. Agape is a specific word for love that describes unconditional love. It’s an active, sacrificial, other-centered love. This is the love that reflects the love of God towards us. In English we have phrases like ‘falling in love,’ which implies that love is a feeling that happens to you. But God’s love is not something that happens to Him… It’s who He is. And in the teachings of Jesus about love, the emphasis is not on a feeling but on action. Agape is action oriented, a choice that we make to seek the well-being of others over our own well-being. That is how we were loved by Jesus and thus is how we ought to love others.
Reflection & Prayer
For this reading plan we will be using a tool to guide our study of Scripture that’s called the S.O.A.P. Method. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. We recommend you use a journal with this method and write out your thoughts on each of these areas for each day of reading. It doesn’t have to be long-winded and you don’t need a fancy journal. But for anyone that has not journaled before, the benefit is that it often helps us focus and avoid distractions during prayer and Bible study.
S.O.A.P. Method
Scripture - Pick a verse or two that stood out to you and write it in your journal. Be looking for a “Holy Spirit Highlight.” What did you read and think “I needed to hear that” or felt like it was written just for you?
Observation - Now write some observations about the verse(s) or passage. What is this passage or verse saying? About God? About people? How is Jesus revealed in these verses?
Application - Now write a few sentences on how this passage applies to your life. Is there truth about God that you are to believe? A promise to receive? Is the Holy Spirit convicting you of something you need to do or stop doing in light of God’s truth?
Prayer - Now write out a prayer to God in response to this Scripture. This is a way to turn God’s Word to you back to Him. Be honest and express your heart to Him. God always listens and He delights in your prayers. (Psalm 34:15; Proverbs 15:8)
Read 1 John 4:7-21
Highlight
The word for “love” throughout these verses is agape. Agape is a specific word for love that describes unconditional love. It’s an active, sacrificial, other-centered love. This is the love that reflects the love of God towards us. In English we have phrases like ‘falling in love,’ which implies that love is a feeling that happens to you. But God’s love is not something that happens to Him… It’s who He is. And in the teachings of Jesus about love, the emphasis is not on a feeling but on action. Agape is action oriented, a choice that we make to seek the well-being of others over our own well-being. That is how we were loved by Jesus and thus is how we ought to love others.
Reflection & Prayer
For this reading plan we will be using a tool to guide our study of Scripture that’s called the S.O.A.P. Method. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. We recommend you use a journal with this method and write out your thoughts on each of these areas for each day of reading. It doesn’t have to be long-winded and you don’t need a fancy journal. But for anyone that has not journaled before, the benefit is that it often helps us focus and avoid distractions during prayer and Bible study.
S.O.A.P. Method
Scripture - Pick a verse or two that stood out to you and write it in your journal. Be looking for a “Holy Spirit Highlight.” What did you read and think “I needed to hear that” or felt like it was written just for you?
Observation - Now write some observations about the verse(s) or passage. What is this passage or verse saying? About God? About people? How is Jesus revealed in these verses?
Application - Now write a few sentences on how this passage applies to your life. Is there truth about God that you are to believe? A promise to receive? Is the Holy Spirit convicting you of something you need to do or stop doing in light of God’s truth?
Prayer - Now write out a prayer to God in response to this Scripture. This is a way to turn God’s Word to you back to Him. Be honest and express your heart to Him. God always listens and He delights in your prayers. (Psalm 34:15; Proverbs 15:8)
Posted in First Comes Love