This 1 John 4 devotional for men begins with a plain claim from Scripture: love starts with God, and it shows up in how we treat people. For Saturday, Oct. 3, the passage is 1 John 4:7-8.
In this story
“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.”
1 John 4:7-8 (NIV)
What this 1 John 4 devotional passage says
The author of 1 John, traditionally identified as the apostle John, was writing to Christians about how to recognize genuine faith. His answer is practical. Love is not just a feeling a believer has. It is the sign that a person knows God, because, in the writer’s words, God is love. It is a short passage, but it carries much of the letter’s central message.
The verses that follow explain where that love comes from. According to 1 John 4:9-12, God showed his love by sending his Son into the world, and since God loved us first, believers ought to love one another. The passage ends with a striking line: no one has ever seen God, but when people love one another, God lives in them and his love is made complete.
3 ways to live it out today
Many men learn to show strength by staying calm, staying busy and keeping feelings private. This passage points to another kind of strength. Here are three ordinary places to practice it.
- At work: Show patience with a coworker who frustrates you. Choose a calm response instead of a sharp one.
- At home: Speak kindly to your family even when you are tired. When your kids talk, listen first instead of rushing to fix the problem.
- With friends: Offer help to someone who needs it, without expecting anything back.
None of these steps in this 1 John 4 devotional for men is dramatic. Taken together, they are what loving others looks like in a regular week. Another well-known passage, 1 Corinthians 13:5, says love “keeps no record of wrongs,” a good test for how we handle old arguments and small offenses.
To get the most from this 1 John 4 devotional for men, read the passage slowly once, then read it again out loud. Pause on the phrase “God is love” and ask what that sentence says about how you should treat the people closest to you. Many readers find it helpful to write down one specific person and one specific action before the day begins, then check back in the evening to see how it went.
Reflection questions
- Who in your life needs to feel your love more clearly this week?
- Where are you holding back from loving others because of pride, fear or hurt?
- What is one practical way to show love today, at work, at home or in your community?
A prayer for today
Close this 1 John 4 devotional for men with a short prayer. Lord, help me see love as strength and not weakness. Give me the courage to love the people in my life, my family, my friends and my colleagues, with patience and kindness, especially when it is hard. Remind me that when I choose love, I am choosing to be more like you. Help me lead with love today. Amen.
Keep reading with our recent devotionals for men on courage and forgiveness, or start your weekend with Friday’s Daily Devotional.
