Love Came Down
“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.”
1 John 4:9 (NIV)
Love came down to lift us up. When David encountered God delivering him from the hands of Saul and his enemies, he said, “… You stoop down to make me great.” Psalm 18:35b (NIV)
David experienced the love of God coming down. His life was transformed by that love, and he was never the same. He knew the only explanation for his victories was the love of God.
Love came down at Christmas. God saw a world in darkness. Sin had all but destroyed His creation. His perfect world had fallen. But that wouldn’t stop His love! John tells us that God showed His love among us. Imagine that for a moment. How did God show His love among us? He sent His one and only Son into the world. The promise given to Abraham was fulfilled in Bethlehem. What a demonstration of love! Because of His great love for a fallen world, God said, I’m going to go there Myself. I’m going to enter the sinfulness of humanity and become a man. The Son of God became the Son of Man! God sent His one and only Son into the world! Jesus came to seek and to save those who were lost! Who are the lost? You and me! We were born in sin, separated from the love of God. The only way we could possibly connect with God is if He came to our world. We could never get to His in our sinful condition. So, love came down! “… He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him.” 1 John 4:9b (NIV)
Why did He do it? God didn’t come to make bad men good; He came to bring dead men to life! In the next chapter, John adds, “He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.” 1 John 5:12 (NIV)
Do you have that life? The life of the Son of God who loved you and gave Himself for you. This is the message of Christmas! It’s about love, and John tells us what that love really is: “This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” 1 John 4:10 (NIV)
Jesus came to Earth to give you the gift of Himself. Too many people celebrate His birthday on Christmas without accepting the gift of His life, the free gift of salvation! This gift goes unwrapped year after year after year. Unwrap the gift of Christmas and experience the love of God, the love that He has for you that motivated Him to send His one and only Son to give His life on the cross for your sins and mine. This is love! It’s a love that came down and died for you and me! It’s a love that conquered death, hell, and the grave to set us free! It’s a love that will lift you from the darkness of sin and bring you into the light of His glorious presence. Isaiah prophesied it over 700 years before when he wrote, “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; Upon those who lived in a land of gloom a light has shone. You have brought them abundant joy and great rejoicing….” Isaiah 9:1-2a (NABRE) That’s the real gift of Christmas!
Another important part of your daily devotional is spending time with God in prayer. The Woodlands Church Prayer Board lists prayer requests submitted by our members and provides a way to send them some encouragement by using a button on the page to let them know that you prayed for them. Whether you use the Prayer Board, or pray from your heart, the goal is to build the habit of incorporating prayer into your quiet time.
Need prayer yourself? Let us know by submitting a prayer request on the Woodlands Church Prayer Board.