Day Six

by Anthony Kidd

“Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” -1 John 4:11

The advent season is filled with busy schedules and, in the midst of our busyness, we can forget to slow down to be with the friends and family who are around us. When I find myself in a busy season (which, when I think about it, never seems to really end), I see how quickly I can get distracted by my circumstances. That is when I find myself not showing or being an example of love to those closest to me, my friends and family.

I remember just a short time ago I was running errands with my kids and we had a few things to get from one store, so we all piled up in a buggy (well they did….I got to be the buggy pusher) and started our trek up and down the aisles. As we went up and down the aisles, the kids kept pointing and asking (as most kids do) “Can we get this?!” In my frustration with having to repeat (as most parents do) “No,” we ended up forgetting one thing off our list and I snapped at my kids, “Y’all made me forget what I needed!” And I immediately saw the look of disappointment on their faces.

In this passage, John encourages his readers to be an example of love to those around them. In verse 12, it reads “No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.” We are surrounded by opportunities to display God’s love to the lost and dying world around us. It might happen at the grocery store or coffee shop. Maybe one of your family members needs to see what the love of God is. We can be that example during the advent season.

I had an opportunity to not let my frustration get the best of me, and I failed. From time to time, we’ve all been in circumstances where we don’t respond

with love. Rather, we snap, and respond in frustration. During this advent season, you will be confronted with opportunities to display God’s love to those around you. Let us all strive to follow the example of Jesus and show God’s love in all of these situations.

PRAYER

Father, we celebrate our greatest example of love; your Son, Jesus. Today, would you teach us ways that we can show your love to those who cross my path today. Open our eyes to see the world around us through the lens of love. Teach us to be the example of love so that your love can be perfected in us. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.