Monday, December 23, 2024  //  Day 23

Today’s passage is one that most of us were taught from childhood. Throughout our lives, we have all experienced the love of God. It seems as we approach the Christmas season that people (even those who are not believers) become more kind and loving. Although this is wonderful, just imagine how things could be if we practiced this all year long. As Christians we should always strive to live in God’s Love. How do we do this? It’s simple. This is accomplished through the way we love each other, including those outside of our church. 

We must be different from the world in the way we carry our lives as Christians. The world’s love is often given with an expectation of something in return: “What’s in it for me?” We as God’s children should demonstrate God’s love, expecting nothing in return. In 1 John 4:20, Jesus tells us that we can’t say we love God and then not love our brother. 

In order for John 3:17 to be carried out, that the world through Him might be saved, we must demonstrate God’s love to others by sharing the Gospel and living the Gospel. We must be different in the way that we love than the world is. The love of God is a pure love and must be displayed through us in this way: God’s way. 

I believe that the effectiveness of God’s love as demonstrated in our lives is closely related to the depth and degree in which we truly believe and live in God’s love. Yes, we believe that God’s love for us is real. But to what degree do we truly experience this love? We must love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength – which is easier said than done. In order to love God in this manner, we must reach a place in our lives where He is the most important thing to us.