No doubt I benefit most from these reflections I collect during the Advent season. You see this is maybe a five minute read for those who pick it up but for me it is a culmination of thoughts I
have been meditating on. Will they motivate others or stir your own thoughts, I can hope. This week is often characterized as the week of LOVE!
Here is a very intentional prompting: raise your sights, look around and show love to someone who needs it: offer encouragement, lift a helping hand, reach out to someone from whom you
are estranged. It can (no, it will) be transforming for you and perhaps for the recipient.
What’s the first verse that comes to mind on the subject of love? I asked my grandkids. Katherine, age 9 immediately recited John 3:16 but didn’t stop there she included verse 17.
Verse 16 reveals God’s love through Jesus, inviting belief and verse 17 reveals His heart, not to
condemn but to reclaim and restore relationship.
Emma, age 22 displayed it by loving one of the least of these (an older feral cat she recently adopted, and brought to a family gathering) and reading I Corinthians 13, that instruction on
how love behaves.
Jesus goes on to reiterate that keeping his commandments is testimony that we truly love Him John 14:15. Then in his first letter John also lets us in on the ‘not of this world’ nature of our
love, it won’t be universally accepted or understood.
Love One Another
For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother’s righteous. Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you. We know that we
have passed out of death into life, because we love one another. Whoever does not love abides in death. 1 John 3:11-14
And Paul shows us how to grow this way be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God
for a sweet-smelling aroma” (Eph. 5.1, 2).
Lastly, the words of this prayer reflect too clearly the distractions I/we often feel and offers a way
back:
Is it that I haven't seen you, God?
Have I been looking someplace else for you?
Or have my eyes been covered
by the distractions in my life?
And yet you are so faithful in your love for me.
I want to see now with a new vision and great hope,
because my heart is enraptured by your love.
I pray to you and feel the power of your coming,
like a light on the path before me
guiding me to return your love even more.
Let me raise my voice
with new courage and deep joy
to give you praise with my life.
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