Receiving God’s Love

Call To Prayer 

Title: Receiving God’s Love 

By: Njuacha Hubert 

Date: 10.02.2024 

6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”7 Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”8 “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” John 13:6-8 

Preachers often teach about loving God, loving people, doing right and avoiding wrong. They teach us about what we must do and what we must not do. Great! However, there is also another part of the gospel which is the foundation and must not be relegated to the background or neglected; with a conclusion like “it is common knowledge and should not be repeated”. That is the love of God for us. The goodness and mercy of God. We need to also hear this often and be encouraged. 

You cannot give what you don’t have. This is very clear and logical. If you turn over an empty cup in an attempt to pour out, nothing pours out because it is empty. However, in the proportion to which it is first filled, so can it pour out. What am talking about precisely here is love. No one can love unless he or she has received love. When we understand how much God has loved us then we are drawn, compelled, energized to love Him back. Also, this love flows into us from others. The word says, “We love him, because he first loved us” (1 John 4:10). God didn’t only create us but loved us to the point of sending His only son to suffer and die for our sins to be forgiven. Jesus didn’t get married nor live long. Now we have riches in Christ Jesus because of His sacrifice (2 Corinthians 8:9-12). The more we contemplate His love the more gratitude will fill our hearts. The more we able to rest in Christ and enjoy the joy of His presence, the more we can love, because of the love we receive from Him. He said in His word “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28. If you have not rested you cannot work. 

In the opening verse Jesus was telling Saint Peter, in other words “You must receive my love before you love”. Right after this Jesus gave us His new commandment: Love one another, as I have loved you (John 13:34). Apart from understanding His love for us through the Word, we also access this love(rest) as well when we spend time with Him in prayer, singing, praising, worshiping and praying in tongues.  

Prayer Point:  

Let’s thank God for His Word. Let’s pray that we learn to open our hearts to receive God’s love in our prayer time.