READING: Zechariah 6-8; 1 John 4
Yesterday was the official Thanksgiving Day in the United States, but every day is thanksgiving day for believers. Because we are to give thanks in all things (1 Thess 5:18), never does a day pass without a reason to say “thank you.” Today, I’m especially grateful for the life-transforming truths in these texts from our New Testament reading:
“God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his one and only Son into the world so that we might live through him. Love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.” (1 John 4:9-10)
God’s very essence is love. In the simple story of the gospel, God loved us when we were unlovable. He sent His Son to pay the price for our sins and conquer our death. Because of what He’s done for us, we have eternal life. There is no greater love than that love, for it comes from the heart of God.
I suppose that today marks the beginning of the Christmas season as we push toward celebrating Jesus’ birth in about four weeks. I pray we will not take that story for granted this season, nor will we flippantly rush past the holiday without contemplating its truths. The whole story is wrapped in the love of God – and it ought to produce much thanksgiving in us.
PRAYER: “Lord, I praise You for the good news of the gospel.”
TOMORROW’S READING: Weekend is for catch-up and review
MONDAY’S READING: Zechariah 9-11; 1 John 5
