Advent Week Four: Love

Week Four: Love
Debra Osberg (1978)

In the busyness of this season, have you allowed yourself time to slow down to be overwhelmed by how much God loves YOU? Because of God’s great love He gave us His Son that we might have life.
“For God so LOVED the world that he GAVE his one and only Son, that whoever BELIEVES in him shall not perish but have eternal LIFE.” John 3:16 NIV

Christmas is a time to remember God’s love. How He gave, how He lived, and how He died that we might have life to the full. God’s gift of love motivates us to love others. When we live in awe and wonder of what Christ has done for us, we are then moved to show love to those around us. Not because they deserve it but because love was given to us freely, therefore, we freely love.

Sometimes I have a hard time remembering too many details or things I need to do. But I love how Christ sums up the two most important things for us to remember. “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength. The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.” Mark 12:30-31 NLT

Every moment we are to love God and love others. Love the Lord with our emotions and feelings, our thoughts and plans, our energy and vitality. In other words, all our love (passion, yearning, affection and respect) is focused on God. Our attitude and actions then display our love for God. We are putting Christ on display in all that we do and say. So, we need to take seriously His command to love the Lord with all that we are.

When we are fixing our minds and hearts on loving God then His love compels us to love others. We are reminded in I John 4:7 that we are to love one another, for love comes from God. It’s not something we can do on our own but as we love God first, then we can love others. What does that kind of love look like? I Corinthians 13 tells us that love is: patient, kind, not boastful or proud, not self-seeking or easily angered, keeps no record of wrongs. Love always protects, trusts, hopes and perseveres.

May this advent season of anticipating the celebration of Christ’s birth focus our minds on loving God above all else and loving others. And may we spend time in His Word to know Him more so that all we do and say be measured by love.

“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” I Peter 4:8 NIV

Monday
Type the word “Love” in your favorite Bible app to read what God has to say about His great love for you. Allow yourself to be overwhelmed by God’s love that it changes the way that you think and act.

Tuesday
Mediate on I Corinthians 13. What is the action of love you need to focus on today?

Wednesday
During this Christmas season, how do others see your love for Christ in your attitude and actions?

Thursday
Commit this verse to your mind and notice how you are living it out each day. “Do everything in love.” I Corinthians 16:14

Friday
As you look to the new year, how can you focus your heart and mind to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind?