121 AdventSample

How Do We Live This Out?

Our capacity to love is fully and completely dependent on the grace of God, which fortunately for us, is constant and far bigger than human capability or understanding. We must be careful not to define love solely on our ability to choose it or decide upon it, while this is an important aspect for us, as believers, to live a life of love. However, this would, in fact, leave love at the mercy of our ability, which is not love in the fullest degree of it’s existence. So we must first depend on God’s grace, we must love God through our faith and trust in Him. And then we must abide in His love daily, as to not forget it or be deceived by those that oppose it.

Jesus tells us that after an experience of His love, we are to love others. As believers, this love unifies us, His church, as we build one another up to love and good deeds (Hebrews 10:23-25). To those far from God, our love for one another marks us and sets us apart (John 13:34-35). God displays His love for the world through us, us loving others as He loved us. It is no surprise that this is what Christ calls us to, given the stark difference between His love, void of self motivation and desires, and the love the world knows, which can often be merely a fleeting emotion perpetuated by a desire to be loved in return.

"The love of God is not God’s making much of us, but God’s saving us from self-centeredness so that we can enjoy making much of Him forever. And our love to others is not our making much of them, but helping them to find satisfaction in making much of God. True love aims as satisfying people in the glory of God. Any love that terminates on man is eventually destructive. It does not lead people to the only lasting joy, namely, God. Love must be God-centered, or it is not true love; it leaves people without their final hope of joy.” John Piper

How can we give the love of Christ away? How can we display it to others?

Families With Young Children

Read Luke 15:11-31. KIDS, God’s love is so different from our love. We do not always feel love or express love towards others. God always loves us, unconditionally! In the Bible story, why did the young son come home? (he had spent all his money and he thought he could work for his father) Did the young son think that his father would forgive him? (no) What did his father do? (he welcomed him home and threw him a party) Why did the father welcome his young son? (he loved him, just as God loves us)

Name ways you show the love of Christ to others? Christmas is in two days and God showed us His love by giving us the best gift of all. What was that gift? (Jesus)

Pray and ask God to show you how to love others. Pray for those that need to feel love. Thank God that Jesus is the reason for this Christmas season. Thank God for giving you a family to love and that loves you.