Advent Week 3: Love

The 3rd candle of Advent is the love candle. It signifies the love of Christ.

He is love and whenever we allow his light to shine through us, love is always at the forefront.

We know in John 3:16 that...

"God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son; that whosoever believed in him should not perish but have everlasting life." - John 3:16

When God showed us his love, he gave. He is always giving to his children and we should follow that example. It is not enough to show it out of tradition and during a certain time of the year, but it should be continual, everyday.

“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.” - 1 Corinthians 13:1-3

‭‭Without love leading the way, everything we do is for naught. How can we say we love God who we have never seen and not love our brother who we see daily?

My aunt, Ruby Young, preached a sermon years ago titled, Love is What It Does.

Love is an action word.

It causes us to do the things we do. When we give, it is because we have already received from the Father. We know we are loved therefore we can freely give it.

Love doesn’t look for praise or a response.

It only wants you to know you are loved and received for who you are, not what you have to give back. We limit love because we feel that others must earn it first.

But doesn’t scripture say that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us? God doesn’t wait until we are cleaned up to show us his love. It was his loving kindness that drew us towards him.

So, let's give love freely this Christmas season, and then let's keep giving it all year long.