December 24, 2025

Scripture

1 John 4:7-16 ~ Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.

Reflection

Love. What images does that word conjure up for you? Hearts? Maybe a cupid angel floating with an arrow? Or maybe even another cupid with a harp?

If you open up a dictionary, you will find the words strong attraction, affection, emotional attachment. I John tells us God is love. The deeper meaning of that definitely throws the above images of hearts and cupids out the window.

When we look at ourselves, we see how flawed our image of love is. Even when we demonstrate love within our own families, we fall short. We have shown love when caring for our ageing parents, or disciplining our children. And alas, our flaws always come through dealing with our spouse.

God tells us he is love. And we are to abide in this love. I interpret that as existing and breathing in his love. Difficult? You bet. Remember the love chapter? I Corinthians 13? At how many weddings have we heard this chapter read? Perhaps even our own weddings, if we can remember back that far! Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking. It is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. Actually, if we can remember the love chapter and the love God has for us, in that he gave his only son to take our sin away and has given us of his Spirit, who teaches us how to abide, we can then understand that it has been done and given for us. So let us confess that Jesus is the Son of God, and then believe as the word tells us that God abides in us and us in him and his love prevails and has no end.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we thank you this Christmas Eve that your love for us is so complete and perfect because you gave us your only son, Jesus, to take away our sins. May that same love abide in us and be reflected to everyone we are around. In the precious name of Jesus, Amen.

Judy Johnson