Love, No Strings Attached

"This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins." -1 John 4:10 What motivated John to write five of the books of the New Testament? What sustained him through those turbulent first years of the church when persecution was rampant — when as many as eleven of his fellow apostles died violent deaths? What enabled him to cope with his own lonely exile on the isle of Patmos? Perhaps the answer is found in an idea that John mentioned repeatedly in his writings. That recurring theme is love.  The words love, loves and loved are used more than 50 times in John’s Gospel, and there are at least that many references to love in John’s epistles. John was so amazed by God's unconditional love and acceptance that he even began referring to himself as "the disciple whom Jesus loved" (John 13:23; 19:26; 21:7,20)! It feels wonderful to be loved by another human, but when we catch a glimpse of the depths of the love of God, we are awestruck. His love comes with no conditions, no strings attached. And once embraced, it has transforming power, taking ordinary sinners like John and changing them into extraordinary servants of God. Have you ever pondered God’s infinite love for you? More than that, have you accepted the priceless gift of forgiveness and salvation that he offers? Learn more about Once-A-Day Men & Women of the Bible Devotional