Loving Hope
Scripture Reading — 1 John 4:7-12
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.
I have a painting by a local artist that hangs in my house. The painting features a colorful background behind the words “I love you. Pass it on.”
I’m not sure whether the artist was thinking of God’s love when he painted those words, but that’s what I think of when I see the painting. The book of 1 John in the Bible makes clear that God’s love is what empowers us and enlivens us to love others.
John says, “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God,” and, “Since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” When I read these words, I imagine God saying to me, “I love you. Pass it on.”
The birth of Jesus that we celebrate in this Christmas season is the greatest gift of love that God gives to us. God showed his love to us by sending his Son into the world to give us life.
Now we can pass it on. We can show the love of God to other people by putting others before ourselves. The love of God is the greatest Christmas gift we can give.
Our hope for a Savior was fulfilled in Jesus. We show our gratitude for God’s love in Jesus by loving one another.
God loves you. Pass it on.
God of love, thank you for the great love you have shown us by sending your one and only Son into the world. Strengthen us to share that love with one another. Amen.
About the author — Rebecca Jordan Heys
Rebecca Jordan Heys serves as a pastor at Calvin Christian Reformed Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She and her husband, Kyle, are the parents of two children.
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