Good morning. It’s Friday, February 13th, aka Friday the 13th…

🥳 Congratulations on starting today with God, and thank you for letting us be a part of it.

— John 15:9

“Jesus loves you” might be the most repeated saying in all of Christianity.

And there are two major verses where Jesus actually says it.

The first is: John 15:9 (NIV) “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you.”

And the second is: John 15:13 (NIV)“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”

Both of these verses show us something important about Jesus’ love.

John 15:9 shows us where love begins. Jesus says, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you.” Love starts with God. The Father has always loved the Son, and that same love flows to us. It is not earned and it is not temporary. It is the default. Jesus already loves you.

Then in John 15:13, Jesus makes it concrete. The greatest love is to lay down your life for your friends. He is not speaking in theory. He is pointing to the cross. Love is not just something He says. It is something He does.

Not only does it foreshadow the cross, it also points us to Romans 5:8, which says:

Romans 5:8 (NIV) “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

When Romans says Christ “died for us,” it connects directly to Jesus saying the greatest love is laying down your life. Jesus defined it first. Romans shows it happened.

Romans 5:8 also connects back to John 15:9. It says Christ died for us while we were still sinners. That shows the kind of love Jesus was talking about. A love that starts with God and moves toward us.

So don’t just know that Jesus loves you. Know what that really means.

When you’re not sure how to pray, A.C.T.S. gives you a simple path to follow: Adore, Confess, Thank, and Ask.

Adoration: Father, Your love has always existed, and it never runs out.

Confession: I still act like I have to earn what You freely give.

Thanksgiving: Thank You that Jesus loved me first and proved it at the cross.

Supplication: Help me rest in that love and live like I truly believe it today.

In Jesus name, Amen

“Jesus, I Love You” by NONAH

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Thanks for letting us be a part of how you start your day with God.

See you tomorrow,

Zach | Start With God