The Candle of Love
Second Advent Sunday
Are you feeling ready to walk away from a relationship – are you possibly even considering divorce? We want to pray for you.
The ring was a very special Christmas gift! They knew how much it would mean to her. It signified she belonged to the organization. As she wore it she was aware of all it represented and of who it said she was. With it she was more conscious of how she acted.
As a follower of Jesus you wear a distinguishing mark as well. Is it visible?
You wear His love.
When Jesus came to this earth He brought a special kind of love. This love is unselfish, compassionate and unconditional. He loves us just as we are. Our present condition is irrelevant to His love. It is a love that picks us up just where we are in life and carries us further than we could ever go on our own.
He gives us His love so we can give it away in the same unselfish, compassionate, unconditional way He gave it to us. He tells us this love will be our trademark. It will distinguish us as followers of Jesus.
What is Advent?
Take a lesson: Discovering advent
“By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35).
Your actions reflect Jesus to the world around you. You can choose to offer love or to hold it back. In situations where it is hard to offer love, ask Him to give you an abundance of His own in your heart so you are able to give it away.
As you move into the Christmas season, this week be reminded of the distinguishing mark you carry as a follower of Jesus. Ask for His love to be evident in your words and actions as you interact with others. Seek to bring unity and balance into relationships or situations. Listen to people with sincerity and interest. Ask for a graciousness that comes from His Spirit as you mingle with those in your circle.
Wear the love of Jesus as your distinguishing mark as His follower.
Father God, Thank you for Your generous love to me. Thank you that You see the abundance in my life rather than all the shortfalls I have. Help me to offer that same gracious love to those I mingle with this Christmas season. Pour Your love into my heart so I can give it away. May they know I am a follower of Jesus by my love. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.
Questions: Do people know that you are a follower of Jesus Christ by your love? How can you show someone in a tangible way this week that you love Jesus?
About this Author Gail Rodgers
Daily audio podcast: A second daily devotional, Free to Serve, today on the Men’s Devotional Blog
Just last night I wanted to start a daily devotional found this site and very thankful for the reminder that His love is not for me to keep but for me to pass it on
Be Blessed
Zanthia
thank you gail.
to my family, my husband, and two children, oh yes, they are aware that I am a serious follower of Jesus Christ. to my siblings and their significant others, only two know and the others, well, they would prefer just to see the transformation without asking questions(not rock the boat so to speak) as to anyone else outside this circle, the only other that know that I am a Christian re-newed is my best friend. but I believe that to strangers I receive the strangest looks(like I’m up to something or that there must be something wrong with me) because strangers are not used to being smiled at in a busy grocery store where I will let them go ahead of me or the teller that has had it up to there saying ”how are you” when they really don’t want to know. doing anything tangible would be to do something totally out of the norm for that person who totally despises anyone who is happy and the simplest thing as a smile could possibly make or break that person’s lonely existence if only for a moment.
The thought of wearing Jesus love is great, may it shine in us all the time.Thanks Gail am blessed!
[...] Our present condition is irrelevant to His love. It is a love that picks us up just where we are in life and carries us further than we could ever go on our own. (Read the full Devotional) [...]
Thank You…these daily emails really make my day! God Bless
What a wonderful prayer to ask God to pour out His love upon my heart so I can give it away. One certainly cannot give what he doesn’t have. I praise God for thid devotional.
Dear Gail as usual another good message, Yes I too pray that I would be a shining light of Gods love to others in this retirement village that we have have just moved into. There are lots of lost souls here, and I pray that the lord will use me in these latter years to His Glory. Blessings to you all Elizabeth
thank you
Thank you Gail for this devotional. I am weary today and am reminded that I must depend on Jesus and the filling of the Holy Spirit to be able to give out to others. I can’t do this in my own strength. Dear Marilyn, like you, I desire others to see Jesus in me. Joining you in your beautiful prayer. Love from here, Donna
Another wonderful devotion, Gail! This is the longing of my heart, that when others see me, they experience Him! May His grace abound in us all, that others “will know that we are Christians by our love!”
Thank You, Father, that You have chosen to use us as vessels of Your love to the lost! Grant us Your grace to allow Your Spirit to be poured out freely, as You replenish our supply! Keep us filled, we pray, from Your fount of living water! In Jesus’ Name, Amen!