Advent Devotional December 11
The best gifts don’t always come in a neatly wrapped box with shiny ribbons. The world’s greatest gift was given by God through Mary and Joseph. God’s gift gave us sweeter music than any iPod. Composer John Rutter described celebrating this gift: “What sweeter music can we bring, than a carol for to sing. The birth of this our heavenly King. Awake the voice. Awake the strings!”
Our Heavenly Father, like any earthly parent, loved us so much that He give us only the best. He gave us a King in the form of his only son, Jesus Christ. 1 John 3:1 says: “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” People will never know Christ’s love until they know Him. We as God’s children will have to show the world who He is by showing who we are. We are His children. When we love one another, we are showing who we are as God has commanded. Love thy neighbor, brother and sister.
We teach His love by showing His love, by helping each other. Saying “I love you” is wonderful, but it’s not enough. Showing His love may take many forms. It may be working at a soup kitchen, volunteering at a homeless shelter, checking on an elderly neighbor in the cold winter or hot summer. Go volunteer at a Church Under the Bridge, where you feed the homeless and conduct a church service. Contribute to Goodwill; give money to a Salvation Army bell ringer. “But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?” - 1 John 3:17. Give of yourself. You are blessed to be a blessing.
On that night long ago, God showed His love by giving us His son. The son showed His love by giving His life for our sins. God’s children can reflect His love by giving year-round to our brothers and sisters in need. God commanded us to love as Christ loved us. What sweeter gift can you give than to give of yourself.
Prayer: Gracious and Loving Father, remind us that love comes
through giving. You gave us your Son. He gave life. This is the greatest gift.
In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
(Additional reading : 1 John 3: 1-3, 10-11, 16-24)
By Joseph Henderson, New Zion UMC, Bluegrass District