Today is the second Sunday in Advent. Traditionally, the theme is love; I hold to that tradition.
By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 1 Jn. 4:9-10
Our fallen human nature cannot love God; our carnal nature
is at war with God (see Rom. 8:7). He loved us regardless. Love is in high
demand, with the hate and evil of the past couple weeks; terrorism and evil
seem to be overtaking the world, but Love overcame, and has victory over death, hell, and the grave—yesterday, today, and forever.
But God demonstrates
His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Rom. 5:8
God loves us. In the midst of a fallen, sinful, broken
world, the love of God is displayed toward us. In Exodus, God called Moses to
the top of the mountain to receive the Ten Commandments, and to receive the
pattern for the Tabernacle, a pattern that designated Aaron to be the high
priest. At the moment that Aaron led the Israelites into idolatry with a golden
calf, God was preparing the propitiation that would redeem Aaron and the people.
He did that for us as well. He loves us so much that He provided a way to
redeem us—fallen, sinful, and broken people we are. He loves us that much. He
redeemed us and called us His own.
See how great a love
the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and
such we are For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know
Him. 1 Jn. 3:1
It all began in a garden, this Redemption story. In Genesis
3:15 is the protoevangelium—the first
promise of the Savior that would come to redeem His fallen children. The story
is recorded in the Holy Writ; beginning in Genesis and fulfilled in Jesus
Christ.
And I will put enmity
Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise
you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel. Gen. 3:15
He loved the world so much that He sent His beloved Son, to
redeem you and me. When the Father could have turned away, He instead sent His
Son, to dwell
with us and be our God, He came and
Tabernacled with us. He ordained it from the foundation of the world.
Father, I desire that
they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see
My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the
world. Jn. 17:24
Jesus, in His moving prayer in John’s gospel reveals the
heart of God toward a fallen, broken world, and fallen, broken humanity.
Love is the reason for the first Advent. Love is the reason
for the second. He will dwell with us forever.
Rest this Sabbath in the Love of God. Let your love shine in
this advent season, so that we can spread His love throughout the earth. This
is the reason for the season.
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