Sunday, December 4

John 3:16, 1 John 4:19

Loren Walker

John 3:16

For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him may not perish but may have eternal life.

 I John 4:19

We love because He first loved us.

When our oldest daughter had her first child it was a wonderful event in our lives…our first grandchild Antonio! Shortly after Antonio was born we got a letter from our daughter that told us a lot about love reciprocated. She said,
“One of my first and most pleasant memories of being a young child was the way Mom or Dad handled me after a bath. You would dry me off, wrap me up in a towel, and then cuddle me close to you to keep me warm until I was thoroughly dry. I thought it was the most wonderful, loving thing a parent could do. But now, I cuddle little wet Antonio that same way, and I find out that you were doing that for you own pleasure as well as mine.”

Love is like that. God sent His Son out of His love. He sent Jesus to wrap us in the mantle of His grace to keep us from having to pay the penalty of our sins. It was a loving thing for God to do. And we naturally love God because He showed His love for us in this wonderful way.

Prayer:

Gracious God, we thank You for loving us enough to send Your Son for our salvation. Jesus showed us by His life what You are really like: not demanding and vengeful, but compassionate, loving, and forgiving. May we show our gratitude to You by reciprocating that love.  By having a sincere love of Christ, and a desire to be the persons He would want us to be.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.