“Because”
1 John 4:19 NLT
We love each other because he loved us first.
My kids bought me a funny t-shirt a couple years or so back that reads, “Because I said so – Dad”. I have had many comments on it when wearing it out around different places. I may see a parent smile or give a chuckle because they’ve also used the same phrase. Now, however, my girls don’t get as much of a kick out of seeing the shirt on me when I wear it, but I still think it’s funny.
As much as this may give us a good laugh, we could think of endless situations in life in which we use the word “because”.
We do this because…..
We say this because…..
We go somewhere because…..
We talk to someone because…..
We go out to do something fun because…..
We could come up with so many different phrases in which we do or say something…..because. Sometimes we do or say things because we mean whatever we say or do sincerely. Then other times, we do or say things that are not so nice to other because we feel like it in the moment. There’s always a reason why we say something, do something or go somewhere. There’s always a “because”.
As I thought about this verse the other day when it came up for a morning reading, I thought about how so often we forget that we need to love people because Jesus first loved us. We so often have our excuses and reasons for often treating others in a bitter way because we feel we have the right because of what has been said or done to us. We are ALL guilty of this!
My simple encouragement to us all today and every day from now on, is to ask ourselves what is our “because” behind what we are doing, behind what we are saying and behind why we are going somewhere. We are told to do everything with love. Are we? Seriously, are we?? Often times we don’t.
What is your “because”? Do you do things in love even when it’s hard? Every time we’re tempted to treat someone bitterly, we need to be reminded that He first loved us. We love because He first loved us.
Simple concept…..yet so difficult to practice.
1 John 4:19 NLT
We love each other because he loved us first.
My kids bought me a funny t-shirt a couple years or so back that reads, “Because I said so – Dad”. I have had many comments on it when wearing it out around different places. I may see a parent smile or give a chuckle because they’ve also used the same phrase. Now, however, my girls don’t get as much of a kick out of seeing the shirt on me when I wear it, but I still think it’s funny.
As much as this may give us a good laugh, we could think of endless situations in life in which we use the word “because”.
We do this because…..
We say this because…..
We go somewhere because…..
We talk to someone because…..
We go out to do something fun because…..
We could come up with so many different phrases in which we do or say something…..because. Sometimes we do or say things because we mean whatever we say or do sincerely. Then other times, we do or say things that are not so nice to other because we feel like it in the moment. There’s always a reason why we say something, do something or go somewhere. There’s always a “because”.
As I thought about this verse the other day when it came up for a morning reading, I thought about how so often we forget that we need to love people because Jesus first loved us. We so often have our excuses and reasons for often treating others in a bitter way because we feel we have the right because of what has been said or done to us. We are ALL guilty of this!
My simple encouragement to us all today and every day from now on, is to ask ourselves what is our “because” behind what we are doing, behind what we are saying and behind why we are going somewhere. We are told to do everything with love. Are we? Seriously, are we?? Often times we don’t.
What is your “because”? Do you do things in love even when it’s hard? Every time we’re tempted to treat someone bitterly, we need to be reminded that He first loved us. We love because He first loved us.
Simple concept…..yet so difficult to practice.
