Thursday December 24, 2020

Today’s Reading: 1 John 3:1-10

Look at how great a love the Father has given us, that we should be called God’s children. And we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it didn’t know Him

1 John 3:1

Reflection: We have become children of God because of the work of the Christ-Child. The love that the Father gives us can be seen fully through the gift of His Son Jesus Christ. For while we were enemies of God in our sin, Christ the Son left His Glory to be born in a lowly manger. Think about it: Jesus, Divine and in Glorious Splendor, left His Almighty Throne in Heaven and put on the limits of humanity. The Eternal God journeyed down to earth and made Himself at home with mortals. His first night with us was spent in a feeding trough for animals. This is a long way to travel. It is the distance that our Messiah was willing to go for our sake. And He would go even further, lowering Himself even more by His Death on the Cross in order to restore us into the Family of God.

What a great Love the Father has given through Jesus! We are able to love as a Family of God, as children of the Heavenly Father, because of this Love that God showed us. This Love has destroyed the work of the enemy. No longer are we bound to sinful living and separation from God. Because of God’s Love shown through Jesus, we are now restored to Him.

“O death, where is you victory? O Death, where is you sting? Now the sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God who gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!” – 1 Corinthians 15:55-57

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for restoring me to relationship with You through Your Son, Jesus Christ. Thank You for drawing near, forgiving me of my sins, and calling me Your child. I am blessed because I am loved by You. I pray that You keep me focused on Your amazing Love, that I would learn day by day to love others in the way that You first showed Your Love to me. In Jesus’ Precious Name I pray, AMEN.

Thru the Bible in a year (credit: Biblestudytools.com): John 10:1-21; 2 Chronicles 8; Psalm 73