Thursday, December 25, 2014 (The Birth of Our Lord)

Thursday, December 25, 2014 

(The Birth of Our Lord, i.e. JESUS) 

1 John 4:7-16

1 John contains the beautiful teaching that “God is love.” It also explains the way in which God’s love was revealed to humanity; namely, in sending God’s son to the world “so that we might live through him” (v. 9). The author also asserts what he believes to be other important theological teachings likely because there was debate and discussion taking place in his particular community. But the overarching teaching here is the importance of love. God is love, God loves humanity, and human beings ought to love one another. By loving one another, says the author, “God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us” (v. 12). At Christmastime, when we celebrate the arrival of Jesus, we can try to remember how much God does love the world. This love may not always seem obvious, but when we love another, including the stranger, the outsider, the forgotten, the “other,” God’s love is manifest.

- Alicia Batten