December 23
December 23rd
READ
1 John 4:7-12
“Love because He first loved us”
DEVOTION
Sometimes my son and I will tell each other we love each other and I will make sure that I have the last words by saying, “I loved you first.” God revealed His love for us by sending His son to be the “atoning sacrifice for our sins.” It’s not that we loved Him but that He loved us. And because “He loved us this way, we must also love each other.” That is a tall order-to love like God loves us. How do we love like God when we know that so often we are going to mess it up? Thanks be to God that His Spirit dwells within us and gives us the comfort and conviction to love like He loves. I want to be compelled by the love of God. I want to be propelled by the love of God. I want to be His hands and feet to a world where so many “do not love because they do not know God.” THINK OF THIS: “God sent His one and only Son into the world so that we might live through Him.”
REFLECT
- Think about the gift of truly living “through Him.” Read John 10:10. Ponder on the words “abundant life."
- How does God loving you first order your steps this Christmas?
PRAY
Dear God,
Thank You for loving us first. Thank You that we get to know what true love is because of Jesus’ atoning sacrifice. Jesus, thank You again for Your sacrifice that gives us full and abundant life.
Amen