As we approach Christmas, we need to remember that without Father God’s generous love, we would have no Christmas. His love is higher, wider, and deeper than we can understand. He sent His Only Son Jesus, so that we can have abundant, Eternal life.
WHY did God send Jesus? “For/because God SO loved the world…” (John 3:16) My NIV Life Application Bible gives the following footnote – “The entire gospel comes to the focus in this verse. God’s love is not self-centred; it reaches out and draws others to Himself. Here God sets the pattern of true love, the basis for all love relationships. When you love someone dearly, you are willing to give freely to the point of self-sacrifice. God paid dearly with the life of His Son, the highest price He could pay. Jesus accepted our punishment, paid the price for our sins, then offers us new life…”
God is love by His nature. God’s love offers protection, provision, healing, comfort, righteousness, and security. God’s love meets our needs and answers our prayers according to His divine will for us.
1 John 4:16b says, “God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.” V 18a states, “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear…” & “We love because He FIRST loved us…” [V 19a]. “…LOVE COMES FROM GOD” (V 7)
WHAT DO YOU HOPE FOR? Romans 5:2-5 says “…we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”
Precious Loving Father, Thank You that you pour out Your love upon us! Thank You for 1 John 3:1 which says, “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!” Thank You for giving Your Only Son, Jesus, to us to teach us Your ways and to lead us into righteousness. Thank You that we are Your children. We love You Abba! Amen
Myrtle Turunen