Advent Devotion Week 2: Love - Charlaine Martin
A Love Letter from God
16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”
John 3:16-18 NKJV
Do you remember filling out Valentines when you were in elementary school? I remember carefully choosing the best box of Valentines I could buy with the money my parents gave me. I would carefully fill in the blank on each card with each classmate’s name, sign my name, and put it in an envelope addressed to that classmate. But the one for my crush-of-the-moment, I was especially careful to write his name really well! When it was time for our Valentine’s Day party, I put my specially decorated box on my desk. Then I went around the classroom to put the Valentines into their boxes. It was fun to read the ones I found in mine. I always hoped my crush liked his, but I never found one from him showing any sign of him crushing on me. My little girl’s heart was so disappointed because I didn’t see the same “crush” returned.
Unlike childhood crushes and kids’ Valentines, we look to Christmas with great expectation, not for the gifts under the tree nor the festive lights and decorations, but toward the whole reason for Christmas. God’s tremendous love for us showed up as a baby in a stone feeding trough wrapped in rags that Mary and Joseph found in the cave used as a stable behind the inn. The Word became flesh and dwelled among us (John 1:14 NKJV). The Word came as a baby boy that special holy night.
While you might expect the traditional verses, this one speaks so well into our long-awaited Christmas Gift-Love Letter in just three verses. In today’s verse, we read that God loves us so much, regardless of what we look like, what we do, or our social status. In fact, in Jeremiah 31:3, God tells us,
“The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying:
“Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love;
Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.”
God loves us so much that He sent Jesus, His Son, to offer us everlasting life. He doesn’t reject us like a crush does. Nor is He fickle by deciding one day He doesn’t love us anymore. No! Not only does He love us, but He wants us to live forever with Him! That amazing love never changes.
The Bible is God’s love letter to you and me. John 3:16-18 is like getting a heavenly Valentine, but for Christmas now. Try writing this passage out like a love letter, but in place of “world,” write your name. Put it in an envelope with “From: God” and “To: Your Name.” Whenever you feel lonely or unloved, open it up and read it. Then write a love letter back to God and pray what you wrote to Him. May you always feel loved by our Heavenly Father!
Note: The letter form below is for you. If you discover that you don’t know Jesus as your Savior, you can change that. God doesn’t want you to perish but for you to be reconciled to Him. Just pray, letting God know you are a sinner and are sorry. Tell Him you accept Jesus as your Savior and to change your life. Let me know if you prayed that prayer so I can encourage you in your newfound life.
May God bless your Christmas Season and enrich your understanding of Jesus, the Son of God.
