Advent is a time for waiting and hoping, a time of longing for the promises of God to be fulfilled.
Christmas is the time when we remember that God came down to a broken and hurting world, stepping into the mess to bring us hope, peace, love and joy.
You are warmly invited to use the daily Bible verses and reflections to expectantly journey through Advent as we ponder Finding Hope.
Week 3 – The Hope of Love
Last week we thought about the Hope of Peace and how God is with us in the waiting. This week as we journey through the third week of Advent we turn our thoughts to love and especially to the Hope of Love that Jesus offers to us all; Immanuel, God with us. Christina Rossetti put it this way “Love came down at Christmas, Love all lovely, Love divine; Love was born at Christmas; Stars and angels gave the sign.” How might the love of God help is to find hope?
Day 1 – Love Sees.
But you, O Lord, know me; you see me and test my heart towards you. Jeremiah 12:3
Love so often is linked to hope. Our Christian hope is born out of our love of God. We recognise that he loved us so much he sent his son to earth. Emmanuel- God with us. The God of heaven sees us. Not how we see ourselves, or how others see us…rather he sees us
and his heart is filled with love. Love sees beneath the surface, behind the mask. Love looks for the heart, for the soul. What do you think Jesus sees when he looks at you? How does that make you feel?
Day 2 – Love Accepts.
A friend loves at all times. Proverbs 17:17
When we say ‘love accepts’ it sometimes gets interpreted as love blindly accepts anything, but it isn’t about accepting inappropriate or harmful behaviour, or about not challeneging injustice. The Bible tells us that God’s love accepts us as we are- but he loves us enough not to leave us as we are! In our interactions with others love accepts us with all our faults but perseveres all the same. When we can accept ourselves, accept out identity, our gifts, our calling and our weaknesses then we can be open to accepting the love of another.
Today why not give thanks for those who accept and love you.
Day 3 – Love Encourages.
And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works. Hebrews 10:24
As people of faith we are called to encourage one another. Hope recognises that love always builds up, it encourages, champions and cheers for the other. The wonder of God’s love is that by His Holy Scripture and by the Holy Spirit He daily wants to encourage us and to build
us up. Love always delights in truth and seeks to ‘en-courage’- literally to give courage to the heart. We all have a language of love, a way we best give and receive love; it might be words of affirmation, gifts, quality time, acts of service or touch.
I wonder in what ways you are encouraged? How today you encourage someone you love?
Day 4 – Love Protects.
There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. 1 John 4:18
Love as we have discovered sees, accepts, encourages. Today we consider how love protects. Just as a parent, driven by love, is compelled to protect their child, so God in heaven wants to protect us. He offers us guidance, direction and instructions on how to live lives that will bring us joy and keep us safe. The hope of love this Advent is that in the love of God we also find a love that casts out fear. A love that offers peace, comfort and assurance, a love that protects what is precious. YOU are precious to God. Today, why not share your fears with God and let his love melt them.
Day 5 – Love Trusts.
Love and faithfulness meet together, righteousness and peace kiss each other. Psalms 85:10
Love trusts – there is something beautiful about being able to trust someone else
completely. When we are able to trust another with ourselves, with our worries, fears, hopes and dreams, with our very hearts… we walk lighter. In uncertain times hope tells us we can trust in the love of God. We can be certain of His love, His acceptance and His peace to surround us. Trusting in an unseen God isn’t always easy but as Corrie Ten Boom famously said “Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.”
Today is there something you need to let go of and trust God with?
Day 6 – Love Honours.
Above all clothe yourselves in love which binds us all together in perfect harmony. Colossians 3:12
To honour means to give high respect or great esteem. When we honour others we are acknowledging their worth. God is love, it is His very nature at His core is love. The Hope of love he lavishes on us is that in showing us love He honours us- He says we are of great worth and worthy of respect. Harmony and peace are often desired at Christmas but the gathering of friends and family may induce tension! Love holds on to honour even admist the tension, it recognises that all of us are worthy of respect, made in the image of God, that all of us are called and chosen by a loving God. So, in love, we can honour those with whom we journey through life. Today how might we honour Jesus?
Day 7 – Love Endures.
I have loved you with an everlasting love. Jeremiah 31:3
Perhaps the biggest Hope of love this Advent is that God’s love not only sees, accepts, encourages, protects, trusts and honours, but is the fact it also endures. It is an everlasting love freely given by an everlasting God. God loved us from the start of time and offers us his love for all eternity. l John 4 puts it this way “God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.” The wonder of God’s love is that despite our faults and mistakes His love endures, and that should fill us not only with Hope but also with Joy!
Lord of Love,
With so much stripped away, bring us back to the heart of Christmas when love became incarnate.
May the flame of the Christmas lantern illuminate my mind;
May the love that came down at Christmas, fill my heart;
May the angels’ song of peace and goodwill, Emmanuel come and bless again the earth.
Give to each of us kindness, a good measure of joy and stir up in us good Christmas cheer.
For the love of the Him who gave Christmas its name: Jesus Christ our Lord.
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