Advent is observed the four Sundays before Christmas and ushers in our preparation for celebrating Jesus’ birth. In some churches and homes there is an Advent wreath with candles that each have a unique meaning: faithfulness, hope, joy, love, and Jesus’ birth.
Today’s focus is Love.
The Bible talks about love throughout the Bible. It reminds us that God is love and all love comes from him. It tells us that our love for others shows that we are Jesus’ disciples. The Bible shows us the characteristics of love: patient, kind, not envious, not boastful, humble, respectful, selfless, gentle, forgiving, rejoices in the truth, protective, trusting, hopeful, persevering, and unending.
I know that is quite a list to live up to and I have a lot of room to grow in loving others.
Christmas especially is the time to express love in action as Jesus’ birth is the ultimate gift given in love by a God who does not want to be without us.
One way we can show love is to make food for others. It could be baking cookies for neighbors or our police department. It could be preparing a casserole to take to a new family or a new parent.
Another way to prepare our hands is to serve others tangibly. It could be volunteering at a toy drive, serving food at a kitchen, or shoveling the snow out of others’ driveways.
What are some ways you could demonstrate love to those around you as a representation of God’s love for you?
