“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.” — 1 John 4:10
Thanksgiving is a season where gratitude takes center stage. As families gather, tables are adorned with abundance, and reflections of blessings fill our conversations, it’s a fitting time to direct our hearts to the source of all goodness—God Himself. But in the midst of this season, it is easy to focus on temporary blessings like food, health, or material provisions. These are good gifts, but 1 John 4:10 calls us to meditate on the greatest gift of all: God’s love demonstrated through the sacrificial work of Jesus Christ.
This verse does not merely offer us another reason to be thankful; it grounds our gratitude in the very essence of God’s love, shifting our focus from earthly blessings to the eternal riches we have in Christ. Today, let us consider this profound truth and allow it to deepen our gratitude.
God’s Love Defined: A Love Not Dependent on Us
John begins with an important clarification: “In this is love, not that we have loved God…” Often, we equate love with our own feelings or actions, as if our love for God is what initiates or sustains the relationship. But Scripture flips this idea on its head. Love does not originate with us—it begins with God.
This is a humbling truth. We are naturally inclined to believe that our faithfulness or devotion earns God’s affection, but John reminds us that we were incapable of truly loving Him on our own. Before we were aware of His goodness, before we sought Him, and even while we were still sinners, God loved us. “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).
This Thanksgiving, pause and reflect: God’s love for you is not rooted in your performance, goodness, or ability to love Him back. It is a free, sovereign, and gracious love that reaches out to you regardless of where you are. That is a love worthy of our deepest gratitude.
The Action of Love: God Sent His Son
John continues, “…but that he loved us and sent his Son…” God’s love is not merely a feeling or a passive emotion. It is an active, pursuing, and sacrificial love. The sending of Jesus is the ultimate demonstration of that love.
In the grand narrative of Scripture, we see a God who continually reaches out to His people. From the promise in Genesis 3:15 of a Savior who would crush the serpent’s head, to the incarnation of Christ, God’s love is always moving toward us. The sending of Jesus was not an afterthought; it was the fulfillment of a divine plan that began before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4).
Think of what this means: the Son of God left the glory of heaven to enter into a broken, sinful world. He took on human flesh, lived among us, and ultimately bore the punishment for our sins. This is the action of true love. As Charles Spurgeon once said, “Love led Him to take our nature, to die our death, to endure our sorrows, to bear our shame, to suffer our separation from God. It was love, indeed.”
On Thanksgiving, we celebrate the blessings we can see and touch, but let us never forget the unseen gift that surpasses them all: the incarnation of Christ. When we feel unworthy, unloved, or overwhelmed, let this truth settle in your heart: God sent His Son for you. That is love.
The Purpose of Love: To Be the Propitiation for Our Sins
The climax of 1 John 4:10 is this: Jesus was sent “to be the propitiation for our sins.” This is the heart of the gospel. The word propitiation may seem complex, but it carries immense significance. It means that Jesus satisfied the wrath of God that was rightfully directed toward us because of our sins. His sacrifice turned away God’s righteous judgment and reconciled us to Him.
This aspect of God’s love is often overlooked in a culture that prefers to focus on His kindness and mercy while ignoring His holiness and justice. But true thanksgiving begins when we understand the gravity of our sin and the cost of our salvation. Without Jesus’ sacrifice, we were alienated from God, hopelessly lost in our sin. But in His love, God did not leave us in that state. He sent His Son to stand in our place, bearing the penalty we deserved.
Consider this profound exchange: Jesus, the sinless Lamb of God, took on our guilt so that we could receive His righteousness. “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21). This is the ultimate reason for gratitude—not just that Jesus died, but that He died for us, taking our place and making peace between us and God.
Living in Response to God’s Love
Gratitude for God’s love is not merely a feeling we experience; it is a response that transforms how we live. When we grasp the depth of God’s love, it changes everything—our priorities, our relationships, and even our outlook on life.
1. Gratitude in Worship
Thanksgiving is an act of worship. When we meditate on the sacrifice of Christ, our hearts should naturally respond in praise. The psalmist declared, “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits” (Psalm 103:2). This Thanksgiving, let your gratitude flow into heartfelt worship. Sing songs of praise, recount God’s faithfulness, and thank Him for the immeasurable gift of salvation.
2. Gratitude in Relationships
God’s love for us sets the standard for how we love others. Just a few verses after 1 John 4:10, John writes, “Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another” (1 John 4:11). Thanksgiving is not only about vertical gratitude toward God but also horizontal love toward others. Show kindness, forgive freely, and reflect God’s love in your interactions with family, friends, and even strangers.
3. Gratitude in Trials
It can be difficult to feel thankful in the midst of hardship, but the love of God gives us an unshakable foundation. No matter what challenges we face, we can cling to the truth that nothing can separate us from His love (Romans 8:38-39). Thanksgiving becomes even more powerful when we learn to give thanks not only for the blessings but also for the ways God is working in our trials to draw us closer to Him.
The Eternal Perspective of Gratitude
Finally, 1 John 4:10 calls us to an eternal perspective. The love of God, demonstrated in Christ’s propitiation, secures for us not only forgiveness but also eternal life. Thanksgiving is not limited to a single day or even a lifetime—it is the song of eternity. Revelation 7:9-10 gives us a glimpse of the heavenly multitude, clothed in white robes, praising God for the salvation He has accomplished: “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”
This Thanksgiving, let your gratitude extend beyond the temporal and into the eternal. As you enjoy the blessings of the present, fix your eyes on the hope of glory, when you will stand before the throne of God, fully redeemed, and join the eternal chorus of thanksgiving.
Conclusion: A Heart Overflowing with Thanksgiving
As we reflect on 1 John 4:10, let it shape our Thanksgiving celebration. The ultimate reason for gratitude is not the food on our tables or the comforts of this life, but the sacrificial love of God in Christ. In Him, we find forgiveness, reconciliation, and the promise of eternal life.
Take time today to meditate on this truth: “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.” Let this love fill your heart with awe and gratitude, and may it transform how you live, worship, and give thanks—not just on Thanksgiving Day, but every day.
Prayer:
Lord, we thank You for Your immeasurable love, displayed through the sending of Your Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Help us to live in constant gratitude for this greatest of gifts. May our hearts overflow with thanksgiving, not only for the blessings of this life but for the eternal riches we have in Christ. In His name, we pray. Amen.
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