The Advent Adventure- 1 Day to Christmas: The Greatest Gift You Can Give is Love
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“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
1 Corinthians 13:13 (NIV)
There are three things that can never be washed away by a flood, destroyed by fire, or faded with time – faith, hope, and love. These three abide forever!
“… But the greatest of these is love.”
As great and enduring as faith and hope are, love is superior! Love is supreme! Without love, the Bible says, I am nothing. “So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I’m bankrupt without love.” 1 Corinthians 13:3b (MSG)
The truth is people really don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care. When God said He is love, He demonstrated it. But how can we love like that? Often, I’ve thought the problem was that I just didn’t love God enough. But as true as it is that I need to grow in my love for Him, I must first experience His love for me. Look at this verse in 1 John 4:10 (NLT): the Bible says, “This is real love—not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.” Pause for a moment and consider how much God loves you. A love worth dying for! Jesus gave His life for you so that He may offer His life to you. He pursues a love relationship with you! Have you experienced God’s love? God desires to flood your life with love! Let Him. Open your heart to a love that will never let you down - God’s love!
In Ephesians 5:2 (MSG), the Bible says, “Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with Him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn’t love in order to get something from us but to give everything of Himself to us. Love like that.”
Knowledge may impress people, but love will influence them. That’s the value of love! Love is superior to knowledge, faith, sacrifice, and achievements. Without love, none of these great qualities will leave a lasting impact. 1 Corinthians 13 is the great love chapter of the Bible. Its partner is found in 1 John 4. Both chapters emphasize love as an action. Love is not a feeling. Love is something you do! Be love! God not only loves; God is love. In 1 Corinthians 13, the Apostle Paul gives us the value and attributes of love. In the first three verses, he basically says this:
Without love, words are meaningless.
Without love, knowledge is useless.
Without love, faith is destructive.
Without love, sacrifice is wasted.
Without love, accomplishments are empty.
I like the way the Message sums it up in Verse 3: “So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I’m bankrupt without love.”
Make a deposit in your love account today. Love the one in front of you! Write down the names of three people who are very close to you. Pray for them today, asking God for wisdom and guidance in knowing how to love them and be a blessing in their lives. Learn to speak their love language. Actively do something to encourage them. Ask God to give you a creative idea. No matter how small or insignificant it might seem to you, a small act of kindness can speak volumes to someone else. It could even be a random text of gratitude. Take a risk and invite them to join you at one of the many Christmas Eve services or to watch the live stream if they are unable to attend in person. Let God’s love flow through you to others. It’s the greatest gift you can give this 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.