Devotion:
Read 1 John 4:7-12.
Our Christmas party here at Christ Church for the children at the Bethlehem Center was last Monday night; and once again, I was blessed by seeing the children having fun with crafts, eating a huge meal prepared by loving hands, and being shown the love of Christ. A few years ago after one of those parties, I was out in the atrium saying goodnight to the children as they headed to their buses. A tiny little girl with long braids came up to me and asked me something. I knelt down to my knees to be at eye level with her and asked her to repeat her question. “Will you see Jesus here during Christmas?” she asked clearly. As you can imagine, I was surprised by her question, but I am often surprised by the innocence and faith of children. “I hope so,” I responded (not the best answer in hindsight, but it was the best I could manage in the moment). “Good!” she said, “Will you please tell him ‘thank you’ for our party tonight?” Then she hugged me and ran off with her friends to the bus and home.
Our church showed our love to the children that night in a crazy, noisy, messy Christmas party. And a child was able to see in her heart that it was the love of Christ living in us. She looked beyond us to thank the source of that love.
Personal Worship Option:
Give thanks today for God’s love. Acknowledge and celebrate that God loved you before you loved God. Pray for opportunities in this Season of Advent to show love to others and to let God’s love shine through you.
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