Day Five: You Are Loved At Christmas And Always

“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. (1 John 4:9-11, NIV)

Yes, God loves us and, yes, He is a loving God. But He’s so much more. God is love. He’s the very definition of love. Love is an intimate attribute that distinguishes our God from all other gods and religions. No other religion has sacrificial love as the driving force behind its beliefs. Love originates with God and is an integral part of His being. He is its source. Its only source.

God gave breathtaking evidence of the height, width, depth and length of His love by sending a living manifestation of it in Jesus. Jesus then gave testimony to the depth of His love for us when He willingly gave His life for ours and poured out His perfect, pure, holy blood on the cross at Calvary.

Beautiful gifts flow from this love:

• Forever forgiveness (Romans 8:1, 5:11)
• A new name…child of God (Galatians 3:26)
• A new heart and a new spirit (Ezekiel 11:19, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Galatians 2:20)

God’s Spirit in us then enables us to love in ways we never could in our own strength. God’s Holy Spirit living in us gives us the capacity to love with HIS supernatural love because HE is its source and foundation.

Friend, God has chosen you to be the earthly vessel He will use to reveal His love to this world. You have the honor and privilege of bringing God’s love alive.

You are His ambassador this Christmas and always.

You are loved. God empowers you to live loved. Has God laid a name on your heart as you’ve learned more about His love? Pray and invite Him to show you a way to love that person in ways only you can do.

Father, thank You for this weeklong journey through Your names. Thank You, Jesus, that You are my Prince of Peace, my Good Shepherd, the Son of the Most High God, my Healer, and the One who lavishly loves me in ways that transform my life. Don’t let my journey through Your names end here. Take me deeper still with You this Christmas season. And open a door for me to share what I have learned. I ask this in Your name. Amen.