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Bible verse
1 John 4:19
“We love him, because he first loved us.”
What it means
Our love for God and others is always a response, never the starting point. He loved us first, before we noticed Him, before we deserved it, while we were still far off. That love took shape at the cross, where Jesus gave Himself for us. Knowing you are already and fully loved changes everything; you no longer strive to earn affection but overflow with what you have received. Let this settle deep in you today, and let the love that found you first spill out onto everyone around you.
1 John 4:19 at a glance
| Reference | 1 John 4:19 |
|---|---|
| Book | 1 John |
| Chapter to read it in | 1 John 4 |
| Topic | gods love |
| Passages linked to it | 8 |
| Translation on this page | King James Version (public domain) |
Read it in context
Scripture explains Scripture. These passages are linked to this one most often by readers.
- 1 John 4:10
- John 3:16
- John 15:16
- Titus 3:3-5
- 2 Corinthians 5:14-15
- Luke 7:47
- Ephesians 2:3-5
- Galatians 5:22
Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info, used under CC BY.
Questions people ask
Where do I find 1 John 4:19?
It is in 1 John, in 1 John 4. Reading the whole chapter shows who is speaking, to whom, and why.
What other passages go with 1 John 4:19?
Readers most often set it beside 1 John 4:10, John 3:16, John 15:16, Titus 3:3-5. Each is listed under Read it in context.
How can I pray 1 John 4:19?
Read it slowly once, then say it back to God in your own words, one phrase at a time. Stop on the phrase that stays with you and stay there. You can also ask the family of God on The Living Bread to pray it with you.
Pray this
Lord Jesus, you see 1 John 4:19 and you know every person there by name. We bring you 1 John 4:19, gods love. Make us people who love one another there. In the name of Jesus, amen.
Live this
Where to begin this week.
- Read all of 1 John 4 today, not only the one verse.
- Write 1 John 4:19 where you will see it, and read it aloud at the start and end of the day.
- Tell one person what this verse means to you, and ask what verse has carried them.
Where this fits in the walk with Christ
Nothing here is a finish line. It is one door into a life with Christ and with His people.
Read it, pray it, live it
On The Living Bread you can read the whole chapter, save this verse, ask Simon to explain it, pray it over your life, and share it with someone who needs it today.
