This is how God showed His love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another…. We love because He first loved us.
– 1 John 4:9-11, 19
As a little girl, I remember going on stage at church, or should I say crying my way to the stage, to say my part in the Christmas program. I was very shy and a true introvert. I would say my part through the tears and then cry my way back down to my seat. I could be in a group or by myself; it didn’t matter. I would still cry. As an adult, I would have people come to me at Christmas time and remind me how I would cry every year. It was my claim to fame.
That may have been the starting point of my feeling a need to perform whatever task to meet the expectations others had for me. It became what I believed love was, and at times, I thought that was how I could get God to love me. I had to meet His expectations of me.
It was difficult for me to realize that God just loved me. ME! Not what I did or how I did it (tears or no tears). When I read how God pursues His creation, I was amazed. “The Bible commands human beings to pursue God and promises that, when we do, we will find Him (Jeremiah 29:13). But it also tells us that God is the initiator of those spiritual pursuits (Psalm 53:2; Romans 3:10-12). Jesus said no one can come to Him unless the Father first draws them.” God truly loves us and wants us to be in a relationship with Him.
That may have been the starting point of my feeling a need to perform whatever task to meet the expectations others had for me. It became what I believed love was, and at times, I thought that was how I could get God to love me. I had to meet His expectations of me.
It was difficult for me to realize that God just loved me. ME! Not what I did or how I did it (tears or no tears). When I read how God pursues His creation, I was amazed. “The Bible commands human beings to pursue God and promises that, when we do, we will find Him (Jeremiah 29:13). But it also tells us that God is the initiator of those spiritual pursuits (Psalm 53:2; Romans 3:10-12). Jesus said no one can come to Him unless the Father first draws them.” God truly loves us and wants us to be in a relationship with Him.
| The Father’s gift of His Son is the true definition of love. As we celebrate Jesus’ Advent, we must see it as a part of our love story. |
Finding God’s love is often difficult because of our culture’s expectations. We live in a society that defines love selfishly. What can you offer me so that I will love you? The “love offerings” the world wants are beauty, wealth, favors, or a response to “you owe me.” This is not the love we should be searching for. It is time for each of us to realize that the love God has for us is immeasurably greater than we can imagine.
God loves us! He is constantly reaching out to us to initiate this relationship. A relationship not based on what I can do for Him but on the fact that He loves me. The God who created the universe and breathed life into humanity did all of it for me and you.
The Father’s gift of His Son is the true definition of love. As we celebrate Jesus’ Advent, we must see it as a part of our love story. Throughout history, God showed His love by calling us to Him. We see His love through Old Testament prophecies and faithfulness to His chosen people. His love continues in the New Testament, fulfilling many prophecies about the Messiah coming, living, dying, and rising from the dead. Jesus arrived just as it was promised so that we could be in a relationship with Him eternally.
This Christmas season, I want to ask you: Have you received the gift of salvation? Do you believe that you are a sinner in need of a Savior? Have you trusted that Jesus died and rose again to save you? Will you live for Him? God is calling you! Accept the most wonderful gift of the Savior, Jesus!
God loves us! He is constantly reaching out to us to initiate this relationship. A relationship not based on what I can do for Him but on the fact that He loves me. The God who created the universe and breathed life into humanity did all of it for me and you.
The Father’s gift of His Son is the true definition of love. As we celebrate Jesus’ Advent, we must see it as a part of our love story. Throughout history, God showed His love by calling us to Him. We see His love through Old Testament prophecies and faithfulness to His chosen people. His love continues in the New Testament, fulfilling many prophecies about the Messiah coming, living, dying, and rising from the dead. Jesus arrived just as it was promised so that we could be in a relationship with Him eternally.
This Christmas season, I want to ask you: Have you received the gift of salvation? Do you believe that you are a sinner in need of a Savior? Have you trusted that Jesus died and rose again to save you? Will you live for Him? God is calling you! Accept the most wonderful gift of the Savior, Jesus!
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