Today is Advent 16
Light the 16th candle

Ornaments:

Love – it is the first listed fruit of the Spirit in Gal 5:22-23

It’s something that grows from the Spirit inside.

God is love.
1 John 4:7-10

7Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. 10In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

Love is evidence of being in Christ.
And Love is a verb – it is shown by actions: God shows us His Love!
John 3:16 for God so loved…that famous passage:

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

It is love that caused God to send his son to die for us.

A good man would not die for a friend…
Romans 5:6-7

6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

This is the great showing of love:

Romans 5:8

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

We didn’t deserve it. We’d done nothing to earn it. God’s love was so full towards us that it overflowed to paying the price for us. And when the world tells me that I am unlovable, I just need to go to these passages and remind myself, God loves me.

We love because he first loved us(1 John 4:19) – without him, we do not understand unconditional love.

1 cor 13…This is love – written by Paul through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
First, he mentions doing good – but if I have not love, I am nothing.
Then, instructions:

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8 Love never fails

Then a talk about growing – and the conclusion of the matter:

13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

My take on this is that the greatest fruit to display is LOVE. and with this description, one can work on growing in love for their whole life!

Jesus was born on Christmas morn because God’s heart was torn.

There are several great passages above to read about God’s love. I am amazed whenever I think about His love towards me. In His love he forgives me and gives me second, third and upteenth chances, as long as I keep turning, honestly, to him. I don’t know what I would do without God’s loving hand in my life. It is his love that has pulled me out of suicide and depression. It is his love that has kept me here. It is sharing His love that gives me great joy! And I thank God for it daily.

Lord Jesus, please open my eyes to see the love you have for me.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

More Advent Devotions

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi (with Jim, 12-8-1959 to 12-18-2020)
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” – from My Utmost for His highest

I want to thank

• Blue Letter Bible and
• Bible Gateway and
• Bible Hub

for the ability to search the Bible online.

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• Naomi’s Heart Ministries
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• Compassion