By In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. (1 John 4:9 ESV)
Love is sacrificial. Love may be accompanied by feelings, but the word and concept is itself an action, a verb. The love of God was manifest among us by God sending his only Son into the world. Mankind was desperately sick and in need. At that right moment, God sent his beloved into the depths of sinful humanity to become our sacrifice. The truth that God would die for the sake of his creation is unfathomable.
God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live though him. This concept of living through Jesus has an already and not yet aspect to it. God sent his only son so that we might live in eternity through Jesus. He gifts us eternal life in heaven through faith in his beloved Son Jesus. That is the not yet part; the part that we are promised but have not yet received. The already part happens now through the Holy Spirit. God calls us to manifest his love among us by sacrificing ourselves like he did. He desires us to die to our own passions and desires, and to live in, through, and for the passions of Jesus. He calls us to ready our children, and prepare them to be sent out into the world to proclaim and live the message of Jesus.
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us. (1 John 4:7-12 ESV)
Leading Family Devotions 