Lessons: Psalms 25; Isaiah 5:8-12, 18-23; I Thessalonians 5:1-11; Luke 21:20-28
Discovering the God of Love
I have been spending time, in the last few weeks, rereading the Epistles of John to assist in my upcoming teaching of the Fourth Gospel. The First Epistle, in particular, is an awesome testament to John’s overwhelming belief in the love of God found in the person of Jesus Christ. For the aging disciple, God is the source of all love and when we love one another God is made visible to us and becomes alive in us.
Our task as seekers of God, moving confidently along the spiritual journey, is to find this living Spirit of love in all that we do. I had the privilege recently of worshiping in a small congregation with a group of Christians who were clearly a living witness to this love. The love of which I write was tangible in the way they prayed together, read the scriptures, reflected on the Word, encouraged one another, in their desire to serve others – especially the poor, and in relationship to each other. God was very present in that congregation, namely in the way love was expressed and received.
We only have today. So I encourage you to claim the truth that God loves you and continues to love you with an everlasting love. If we affirm that Jesus is Lord, our mission and witness is to share the love that we have found with others – even those who wish us harm. Saint John puts it even more simply: “God is love and anyone who lives in love lives in God, and God lives in them.” Do you want to experience the power of God alive in you today? Go and love.
Here I am Lord, It is I, Lord. I have heard you calling in the night. Take my heart and fill it with your love that I may live in you and you may live in me. Amen.
Advent Action Step: Socrates said: “The unexamined life is not worth living.” The Church says that too. Take time this month to examine your life and your relationship to God.
Love One Another - Brian
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