Kindness and Love
What is God reminding us during the Christmas season?
Verse of the Day
‘But— When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. Because of his grace he made us right in his sight and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life.’
Today’s Devotional
If we look at the whole narrative of the Bible, we see that God calls His people to remember. He instructed the Israelites to celebrate the Passover each year so they would remember God’s miraculous work on their behalf to rescue them from the oppression of Egypt. There are many other festivals and celebrations mentioned in the Bible, each one a time not only to celebrate God’s current provision, but also to remember His faithfulness in the past. This act of yearly remembrance is to help us to trust Him. If He was faithful then, He will be faithful now.
The beauty of our Christmas celebrations is not because of a tree, or presents, or decorations, or the yummy treats. Although we can certainly be thankful for those things. The beauty of Christmas is found in today’s verses. It is a celebration to remind us of why Jesus came to earth.
He came to show us His kindness and love.
He came to save us from the power of sin and darkness and separation from God, not because of anything we have done to deserve this salvation.
He came to show us what mercy really looks like in action.
He came to wash away our sins.
He came to give us new life, rooted in His love for us.
He came to generously give us the Holy Spirit to guide us into this new life that Jesus offers.
He came to give us right standing and reconciliation before the Father.
He came to give us confidence in all that is yet to come.
And everything He came to do and give and show started with His birth in Bethlehem, that we celebrate at Christmas. As humans tend to do, we have turned the Christmas holiday into something it was likely never meant to be. But God, in his kindness and love, can use even our current culture and traditions to point us back to Jesus. To His humble birth. To His meager birthplace. To the miraculous birth of the Son of God to earthly parents that no one on earth would have chosen for this honor. Everything about the story of Jesus’ birth reminds us of the upside-down nature of the Kingdom of Heaven. All of this is to remind us of His kindness and love. Christmas is a time to remember the lengths God will go to in order for each of us to know how radically God wants us to be His, and to experience His kindness and love.
Journal Prompts
Answer only the questions that seem relevant to you today.
When you think of God’s intent toward you, does it include kindness and love? Why or why not?
Holy Spirit, will you show me today a glimpse of God’s heart toward me? What do you want me to know about how God feels about me?
How does remembering God’s faithfulness in the past help you to trust Him today?