Advent Devotional December 14
“He that loves not knows not God, for God is love.” - 1 John 4:8
Joseph and Mary trudged across an arid land to fulfill man’s decree ... but greater still, to fulfill a prophecy of old. Great with child, even riding on a donkey could not have been comfortable for Mary. Nonetheless, she was on the way to deliver the greatest gift - God in the form of man.
As we draw close to what we’ve come to know as Christmas Eve, many are still in search of that perfect gift - the one that will light up the eyes of their loved ones. Packages stacked up under the tree, wrapped in glittery paper waiting to be torn apart, some to be returned as early as the next day. The perfect gift? Not ....
The cost may far exceed the family budget but then it’s only once a year, right?
A bit of charity for the season may go along with it - visits to the nursing home, food baskets to be handed out.
Whoops! It’s over and done and back to the “real world.” What was the perfect gift last year? What will it be next year? After all, there are 364 days to plan it. Well, maybe. Maybe not.
The greatest gift is Love. Delivered to mankind in the form of a newborn babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and sent to save mankind. The greatest gift you can ever receive OR give is the knowledge of that gift and His saving grace! What greater gift can we give but to pass on the love God provided for His children through His only begotten son.
God is Love and Love is God. Go share the good news ... and not just once a year!
By Bertha Daniels, Auxier UMC, Kentucky East District