Friday, December 2, 2016

December 3, 2016

“Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—when they see the love you have for each other.” John 13:34-35

How do you know God loves you?

How can you be sure His love is real?

How can you experience His love for yourself in a personal way?

The answer to each of these questions is the same - JESUS.

Love has a name and it's JESUS!

Jesus was born on Christmas Day to bring God's love to you and me. He came to demonstrate it. He came to describe it in stories and parables. He came to preach and teach about it in the synagogues, by the sea, in small towns and in the cities. But ultimately He came to die for it on a cruel Roman cross. 

Love has a vertical dimension. It comes down from God through faith in Jesus to transform your life.

But once you come to know Jesus and as the power of His love changes your life you become aware that love also has a horizontal dimension. You are to live your life so that other people see His love demonstrated in your attitudes, actions and values.

Your life is to be the intersection between the vertical love of God and the horizontal love toward those who need His love. You know Jesus to make Him known. You are loved by Him so He can love others through you.

Love has a name and it's Jesus.

Jesus' love has a name through you!















Only His Love Can Give You Significance

"Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—when they see the love you have for each other." John 13:34-35




Christmas is the wonderful timeless celebration of the birth of Jesus, the greatest gift ever given! 

When I say timeless I mean it is a gift that becomes more valuable with each passing year! And I mean it because when you receive the gift of God's love by accepting Jesus as your Savior you gain the gift of eternal life!

The gift of Jesus and the gift of life is the the symbol and the substance of God's great love!

I have been reflecting on the power of God's love expressed by a birth in a Bethlehem manger. God's love is powerful because it gives significance and because it gives security.

Let me share on more component of God's great love expressed in Jesus. His love also gives satisfaction!

Have you ever had a hunger for something, let's say a certain brand and style of pizza and nothing else but that can satisfy that craving? You will not find satisfaction until you go to your favorite place, order that pizza and down it!

Philosopher, Blaise Pascal, clearly articulated the primal craving of the human heart with this quote from his 1600's writings: “What else does this craving, and this helplessness, proclaim but that there was once in man a true happiness, of which all that now remains is the empty print and trace? This he tries in vain to fill with everything around him, seeking in things that are not there the help he cannot find in those that are, though none can help, since this infinite abyss can be filled only with an infinite and immutable object; in other words by God himself.” - Blaise Pascal

God created you in His image so you could enjoy fellowship with Him. So, knowing Him is the deepest yearning of the human heart. Nothing except God Himself. Your heart has a hunger that nothing but God can satisfy!

You must understand that to fully appreciate the magnitude of God's gift of His Son at Christmas! God wrapped up His love in human flesh to bring it within your reach. He made His love tangible to make it available and attainable!

The power of Christmas is God's love born into our world through Jesus! Only His love can satisfy the deepest cravings of the human heart! 

Only His love can give you significance!

No other love but His can bring you security!

Satisfaction is found in no other love but His!

Love has a name and it is Jesus!