Fourth Sunday of Advent - LOVE
Today we relighted the first three candles of the Advent Wreath:
the candle of HOPE, PEACE, and JOY and lighted the fourth candle of LOVE.
Jesus demonstrated self-giving love in his ministry as the Good Shepherd.
The four Advent candles relate to the first four fruit of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5: 22 “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience ….” During Christmas, it’s good to know we are also working our way backwards in the order of the first four fruit of the Spirit.
In the Book of Deuteronomy 10:17-19, we find these words: “For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who is not partial and takes no bribe, who executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and who loves the strangers, providing them food and clothing. You shall also love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.”
Love comes first in the fruit of the Spirit because love is the primary fruit of the Spirit. Love encompasses all the rest, which is hope, peace and joy.
The Christmas story is all about love, 1) Joseph’s love for Mary, 2) Mary’s love for Jesus,
3) God’s love for sinners, and 4) Our love for one another.
There would be no Christmas without love.
God showed his love for us at Christmas by sending his Son into the world as a sacrifice for our sins.
Let us ask God to teach us to love. Let us always remember to put God first as we follow Christ’s footsteps,
that we may know God’s love and show it in our lives.
Let us also prepare for our celebration of Jesus’ birth, to fill our hearts with love for the world,
that all may know God’s love and the one whom He sent, our Savior.
How will you show your love to others this Christmas?
Christ calls us together to be a community of love and Justice. Amen.
******
Today we relighted the first three candles of the Advent Wreath:
the candle of HOPE, PEACE, and JOY and lighted the fourth candle of LOVE.
Jesus demonstrated self-giving love in his ministry as the Good Shepherd.
The four Advent candles relate to the first four fruit of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5: 22 “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience ….” During Christmas, it’s good to know we are also working our way backwards in the order of the first four fruit of the Spirit.
In the Book of Deuteronomy 10:17-19, we find these words: “For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who is not partial and takes no bribe, who executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and who loves the strangers, providing them food and clothing. You shall also love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.”
Love comes first in the fruit of the Spirit because love is the primary fruit of the Spirit. Love encompasses all the rest, which is hope, peace and joy.
The Christmas story is all about love, 1) Joseph’s love for Mary, 2) Mary’s love for Jesus,
3) God’s love for sinners, and 4) Our love for one another.
There would be no Christmas without love.
God showed his love for us at Christmas by sending his Son into the world as a sacrifice for our sins.
Let us ask God to teach us to love. Let us always remember to put God first as we follow Christ’s footsteps,
that we may know God’s love and show it in our lives.
Let us also prepare for our celebration of Jesus’ birth, to fill our hearts with love for the world,
that all may know God’s love and the one whom He sent, our Savior.
How will you show your love to others this Christmas?
Christ calls us together to be a community of love and Justice. Amen.
******