Friday, December 24th, 2021

“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.” —1 John 4:7-12 (ESV)

Today, we review the past week and our “unwrapping the names of Jesus” I hope you have learned something new or was surprised by acts of LOVE. ❣️

LOVE IN ACTION

Here’s a few ideas to put your LOVE INTO ACTION:

❤️ Write a letter to your children, your parents or someone special to you recounting a special Christmas memory.

🧡 Host a free pancake breakfast for international students or people new to the neighborhood or your church. Look for opportunities to build bridges and point them to Immanuel — God with us.

💛 Bake a cake for Jesus, the Son of Man who left the splendor of heaven to take on human flesh. Encourage others to come up with ideas to say “Happy Birthday” to Jesus through loving others near them.

💚 Tape $1 in quarters on washers in laundromats to serve those who may be going through hardship. As you do this pray and ask God to reveal Himself to the person using the coins in a special way. Pray that this simple act of kindness to relieve burdens on the heart of the one accepting the gifts.

💙 Set up a hot cocoa stand for the homeless in you car or van or cab, driving around the city handing out cups of cocoa hot and given in LOVE.

💜 If you neighborhood has snow, shovel a neighbors driveway or sidewalks. You can open doors for strangers at stores. Say thank you and you’re welcome, smile at someone. Spread the LOVE of Jesus through your acts of kindness.

Merry Christmas Eve 🎄🎁🌟

~Charlotte, Seeker of unexpected Comfort, Happiness, Joy and Patience.

References:

https://www.biblegateway.com/

Friday, December 24th, 2021

Verse of the Day

“Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”
— John 1:29 – (ESV) —

Hello dear friends —

The name we unwrap for Jesus today is “Lamb of God.” I wonder what the disciples thought of this name for Jesus. Given the Jewish practice of Atonement, “lamb” would have most likely refer to sacrifice. Innocent and blemish free animals were used for sacrifice for the forgiveness of sins. The practice of sacrifice was instituted by God to satisfy His righteousness wrath for sin. Sin requires punishment and atonement. In order to be forgiven for a sin, innocent blood must be spilled, sacrificial lambs were killed throughout the Old Testament in order to bear the burden of people’s sins. This practice sin transferred from the guilty party to the animal (lamb). The person was declared innocent while the animal bore sin’s just punishment: death.

The first recorded sacrifice in scripture is when God provided clothing for Adam and Eve, covering their nakedness and their sin at an animals expense. “And the Lord God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them.“ Genesis 3:21 (ESV) https://biblehub.com/genesis/3-21.htm

The Old Testament has a few very significant events when it is speaking of sacrifices.

• God tested Abraham’s love, calling him to sacrifice his own son, Isaac.

Genesis 22:1-14 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Genesis%2022:1-14&version=ESV

• Passover lamb, this is when the Israelites had endured 9 horrendous plagues God had sent upon the Egyptians to ensure the freedom of the Israelites, the final plague was to kill each firstborn son. But God protected the Israelites that followed His instructions concerning the blood of a sacrificed lamb’s blood on their doorposts.

Exodus 12:1-32 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Exodus%2012:1-32&version=ESV

God, Himself instituted the sacrificial system but it was limited in scope: the sacrifice of atonement was required every year. It was a foreshadowing of Jesus. Jesus, the Lamb of God came to fulfill and supersede the original sacrificial system. Jesus’ death on the cross atoned for all sin of humankind’s sin once and for all, through faith in Jesus.

This is not blind forgiveness but violent justice, not cheap grace, not temporary oversight but eternal reconciliation. God doesn’t ignore sin: He acknowledges them and makes provision for them through His own Son. The Lamb of God makes possible our relationship with God.

CHALLENGE

Have you lost the wonder and awe of Jesus’ sacrifice for your sins? Today, worship Jesus for His sacrificial atonement, for taking all sins on Himself. Pick a hymn or song that speaks to His sacrifice, and sing it to Him in thankfulness. *(See http://www.onethingalone/songs-of-worship for recommended playlists.

A few of my personal favorites are:

• The Old Rugged Cross

• Trust and Obey

• In the Garden

Prayer ~

Jesus, thank you for your sacrifice. You are the Lamb of God! You are worthy of all praise and glory. You took my sun upon yourself so that I could be forgiven, you gave me your righteousness when I was the one who deserves death. Lord, take my life, mold me into the person you created me to be. In Jesus name, Amen!

➡️ • ➡️ • ➡️ • FOR FURTHER STUDY

Isaiah 53:1-12 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Isaiah%2053:1-12&version=ESV

John 1:29 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=John%201:29&version=ESV

1 Corinthians 5:7 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=1%20Corinthians%205:7&version=ESV

Romans 3:25-26 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Romans%203:25-26&version=ESV

Revelation 13:8 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Revelation%2013:8&version=ESV

Revelation 17:14 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Revelation%2017:14&version=pESV

~Charlotte, Seeker of unexpected Comfort, Happiness, Joy and Patience.

References:

https://www.biblegateway.com/

https://biblehub.com/