The Greatest Love StorySample

The love of God has so many layers. One thing I have come to learn in my years of walking with Jesus is that it's never one-sided. It's a beautiful cycle of giving and receiving that transforms us from the inside out. When we love Him, we actually position ourselves to receive even more of His love, presence, and blessings. It's not transactional - it's relational.

Think about it like a marriage that grows deeper over time. I've had to learn how to love my husband better over the years, and it hasn't always been easy. The way I'm naturally bent to love is different than what he needs, so I've had to sacrifice my natural inclinations to love him the way he needs to be loved. And you know what? As we've grown older together, our love has evolved and deepened because we're both growing in our understanding of God's love.

The more we experience the depth of God's love, the more it compels us to live differently. It causes us to love Him more deeply, obey Him more fully, and reflect His love more freely. We get to be loved by the King of Kings and Lord of Lords! And we get to respond with deep love, compassion, and pursuit of our Beloved.

James 4:8 gives us this beautiful promise: "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you." As we draw closer to Him, He draws closer to us, creating an ever-deepening cycle of love and intimacy. This is why I can say I'm truly in love with Jesus - because there is no greater love than the One who laid down His life for me.

The reciprocal nature of God's love isn't about earning His love - it's about living in response to it. He loved us first, and when we love Him back through obedience, faith, and love for others, we walk in the fullness of that relationship with Him.

Final Prayer: Father, thank You for loving us first and showing us what true love looks like. Help us respond to Your love with wholehearted devotion and obedience. Transform us by Your love until we reflect it perfectly to others. In Jesus' name, Amen.

If you enjoyed this reading plan by Rachel G. Scott, you'll love the complementary guided journal she created called Where to GROW from Here?: A 14-day guided journal to help you grow in your walk with God. Grab your copy HERE.