Christmas reminds us that in Jesus, the love of God became a person.
“In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him” (1 John 4:9, NKJV).
We can try to describe love, and many have. We can try to define love, which is harder to do because we all experience love in different ways. However, we all know a loving person when we encounter them.
God knew that we didn’t just need a good explanation of His love; we needed to experience His love, also. Don’t think of love abstractly. Jesus is the love of God.
Christmas reminds us that when we embody the love of Jesus, the invisible God is made visible.
“No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us” (1 John 4:12, NIV).
Let’s bring Jesus to people this season as God’s sent ones. Just like the very first Christmas, let’s embody love and make God visible to the world in which we live.
Reflect + Pray
1. Before you can love others, you need to first know how much God loves you. Ask the Holy Spirit to shed the love of God abroad in your heart, that you might be filled with the fullness of His love this Christmas.
2. Love initiates. Who in your world needs to experience the love of God this Christmas? Ask God to give you open eyes this Christmas to see who desperately needs His love.
3. God’s love must be personally accepted and applied. Ask God to prepare the hearts of those to whom He is sending you, to open them and prepare a place for Him.
4. As we celebrate the Christmas holiday, let’s lift up those who may not be with family, those who have lost someone and anyone for whom this holiday season will be painful. And let’s pray for the true Spirit of the season to be upon us all.
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