Our Advent wreath is almost completely lit. Christmas is coming! The fourth candle is often called the “Love Candle” and I wanted to share some favorite scriptures about God’s love today.
- For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3: 16
- But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us. Romans 5:8
- But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)…Ephesians 2: 4-5
- Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! 1 John 3: 1
God’s love is immeasurable and overwhelming! If your heart has been softened and made new by the Holy Spirit, then you can know that you love God only because He first loved you (1 John 4: 19). And, if you love God then there is a response that will follow.
If you love Me, keep My commandments. John 14: 15
Jesus tells His followers that if we profess Him as Lord and Savior, then obedience will follow. This is the fruit that we read about in John 15. This is why Believers can be concerned about those professing Christ yet living defiantly in sin. We can call sin what it is (sin!) and exhort our brothers or sisters to follow Christ instead of their own flesh. When we ourselves are in sin, the Holy Spirit–often through the Word of God and other Believers–is instrumental in convicting us of sin and calling us to repentance. God’s commandments are not burdensome. This is more evidence of His good care and love for us.
This love is profound. As we celebrate Christmas this year, may our focus be on the love of God. If you have been made new by Jesus, then be assured of this truth:
For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8: 38-39
Merry Christmas! Love, Wendy
