The Greatest GiftSample

The Heart of the Season

“For God so[greatly]loved and dearly prized the world, that He[even]gave His[One and] only begotten Son, so that whoever believes and trusts in Him[as Savior]shall not perish, but have eternal life.”

—John 3:16 (AMP)

Love is the driving force of the Christmas story: God so loved the world that He sent His Son into this world to save us from our sins. How incredible! And so, this season, as we focus on God’s love for us, let’s make room in our hearts for Jesus as Christmas draws near.

Just think: God came down to earth, became human, lived among us, and modeled love each day. He showed us that our daily life is not separate from our faith. Our whole life—every thought and action—can show love in our world.

Love—knowing you're loved—is what every person desires. We all want to feel valuable and know we matter.

Though we may not always feel loved by those around us, the truth is, God loves us unconditionally. He doesn't love us because of anything we do or don't do; He just loves us. We can't buy His love or get rid of it. Nothing can separate us from the love of God (Romans 8:38-39).

Once that truth is rooted deep inside us, we can begin to see ourselves the way God does and love ourselves in a healthy way. And then out of that, His love can flow through us to others. God’s love changes us. It softens our hearts and allows us to see other people the way God sees them. When we understand God’s love, we really do begin to live differently.

Christmastime is a perfect time to live out the love God sent us through Jesus. But the real challenge is to continue feeling and showing that love when Christmas is over so that it fills the entire year.

Celebrate this season with an expectant heart, savoring the holidays and looking forward with excitement to receiving the greatest gift God has ever given to us—Jesus.

FROM JOYCE MEYER:

“The fact that God loves you is one of the most important truths you need to know.”

JUMP IN…

We are created to receive and give love—God’s love is a gift to us, and we need to release it to others through our words and actions. Spend some time this week thinking about God’s love for you. Write down your favorite scriptures that remind you of His love. Then, be intentional about loving others with God’s love this week. Think about the people you will be with and then think about what their needs may be. Ask God how you can demonstrate His love to others, for love truly is the heart of the season.

If you enjoyed this study on “The Greatest Gift,” we have good news—there’s even more! Check out the full 4-day study by Joyce.

The Greatest Gift