December 24 – Love Came to Earth
7 Dear friends, let us love one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his one and only Son into the world so that we might live through him. 10 Love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, if God loved us in this way, we also must love one another.
1 John 4:7-11
Love Came to Earth (December 24 Devotional)
The most iconic symbol of the season of Advent is the Advent wreath. Evergreen branches form a circle into which candles are placed, usually four in the wreath itself and one placed in the center.
The wreath itself and each of the candles has a special meaning. It has a rich tradition that goes back all the way to 1839 in Germany, when a minister placed 24 candles in a circle to light each day in anticipation of Christmas.
Light a Candle
In modern Advent wreaths, we light the candles on an Advent wreath one at a time on each Sunday of the season. The first Sunday, a candle is lit celebrating “hope”, especially the hope of a coming Messiah prophesied long ago.
The second Sunday, the candle symbolizes “faith”, while the third represents “joy.” This joy echoes the shepherds’ joy at the news from the angels that the Messiah had been born. The fourth candle is for the “peace” that Jesus brings.
The fifth candle is called Christ’s Candle. It is the only one that is white and is a symbol of the light and purity of Jesus. The purple of three of the other
A Wreath of Evergreens
The wreath of evergreens itself has a double meaning. Evergreen branches remind us of God’s gift of eternal life. Staying green all year is a sign of continuing life. The shape of the circle (like a wedding ring) has no beginning or end, just like God’s everlasting love.
When these two meanings are combined, we see how God’s everlasting love prompted His gift of eternal life through His Son Jesus.
Love Himself Came Down
God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his one and only Son into the world so that we might live through him. 1 John 4:9
Jesus was the revelation of God’s love for us. He is Love made flesh and come into the world so that we could know eternal life. Wow! What an amazing Christmas gift God gave us that first Christmas! His love in the form of a most blessed baby.
The Advent Wreath Reminds Us
Love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, if God loved us in this way, we also must love one another.
1 John 4:10-11
The Advent wreath can remind us not just of the love of God for us. That Jesus is God’s love sent to earth as a sacrifice for us. However, it is also a reminder that we are to love one another.
If God has chosen to love us with such an amazing love, our response should be to love one another. How is that we see so much disrespect and hate even in the church these days? When we make Jesus the Lord of our lives, we make Love the Lord of our lives.
December 24 Devotional Action Step:
Love came down to earth. Jesus is love, so we should choose love when dealing with others. Today, let’s find a tangible way to love someone. A hug, a gift, a helping hand, a word of encouragement, etc. Because Jesus loves us, let us love one another.
Prayer:
Dear God, thank You for Your incredible gift of love, Jesus. Help me to remember to show love to others because You have loved me first. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Access to the other posts in this series and the free printables for this December can be found at the Series Overview page. Come join me as I pursue the peace and joy on the Savior’s birth throughout the month of December!