Extravagant Love
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16) It is considered one of the most popular verses from the Bible and is a summary of the Good News; Jesus came into this world to give eternal life to anyone who believes in Him. God’s love is always in action.
The supreme example of this love is revealed in the Scriptures. The prophet Isaiah reminds us, “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Emmanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14) Only two chapters later Isaiah pens those famous words, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given . . .” (Isaiah 9:6) We are told that all of this will take place because of, “The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this. (Isaiah 9:7) God’s love in action came as a gift.
This fourth week of Advent calls us to remember and reflect upon God’s love gift for all of humanity. The world had not expereinced such an extavagant gift until Mary gave birth and wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manager. (Luke 2:7) Truly, the world witnessed what the Scriptures declare. “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights.” (James 1:17) God’s extravagant love gift was good, perfect, and heaven-sent.
I invite you to consider this heavenly gift for a moment. What did Jesus exchange in obedience to the Father? The very Son of God, God Himself, exchanged the heavenly courts for a stinky manure-ridden stable. He exchanged eternal worship for the temporal hatred of humanity. He exchanged His eternal existance for the frailty of flesh. The One who created the universe submitted Himself to a nurturing womb of a virgin that would open the door for Him to die on a cross. (Phill 2:6-8)
As I write this devotion I am listening to the song, “Mary, Did You Know?” It has been recorded by many artists and is considered a true Christmas song. I invite you to search for it and make a space to listen to it. I am convinced it will cause you to rejoice. It will humble you to hear once again that God’s love-gift, in the form of a baby boy, is the Lord of all creation, will one day rule the nations, is heaven’s Perfect Lamb, and is The Great I Am.
Family, this extravagant love requires a response from you and me. May we, this fourth week of Advent, celebrate the promise that this love-gift can be ours through the work of the Holy Spirit. The Apostle Paul declares under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, “And hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” (Romans 5:6-7)
Let us come and bow down. Let us come and adore Him. Let us rejoice over this extravagant love. “She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21)
SCRIPTURES
John 3:16
Isaiah 7:14
Isaiah 9:7
Luke 2:7
James 1:17
Philippians 2:6-8
Romans 5:6-7
Matthew 1:21
You are loved!!
Rejoice in His Love!!
Uncle Mike
The supreme example of this love is revealed in the Scriptures. The prophet Isaiah reminds us, “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Emmanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14) Only two chapters later Isaiah pens those famous words, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given . . .” (Isaiah 9:6) We are told that all of this will take place because of, “The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this. (Isaiah 9:7) God’s love in action came as a gift.
This fourth week of Advent calls us to remember and reflect upon God’s love gift for all of humanity. The world had not expereinced such an extavagant gift until Mary gave birth and wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manager. (Luke 2:7) Truly, the world witnessed what the Scriptures declare. “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights.” (James 1:17) God’s extravagant love gift was good, perfect, and heaven-sent.
I invite you to consider this heavenly gift for a moment. What did Jesus exchange in obedience to the Father? The very Son of God, God Himself, exchanged the heavenly courts for a stinky manure-ridden stable. He exchanged eternal worship for the temporal hatred of humanity. He exchanged His eternal existance for the frailty of flesh. The One who created the universe submitted Himself to a nurturing womb of a virgin that would open the door for Him to die on a cross. (Phill 2:6-8)
As I write this devotion I am listening to the song, “Mary, Did You Know?” It has been recorded by many artists and is considered a true Christmas song. I invite you to search for it and make a space to listen to it. I am convinced it will cause you to rejoice. It will humble you to hear once again that God’s love-gift, in the form of a baby boy, is the Lord of all creation, will one day rule the nations, is heaven’s Perfect Lamb, and is The Great I Am.
Family, this extravagant love requires a response from you and me. May we, this fourth week of Advent, celebrate the promise that this love-gift can be ours through the work of the Holy Spirit. The Apostle Paul declares under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, “And hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” (Romans 5:6-7)
Let us come and bow down. Let us come and adore Him. Let us rejoice over this extravagant love. “She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21)
SCRIPTURES
John 3:16
Isaiah 7:14
Isaiah 9:7
Luke 2:7
James 1:17
Philippians 2:6-8
Romans 5:6-7
Matthew 1:21
You are loved!!
Rejoice in His Love!!
Uncle Mike
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