12/4-12/10

Advent Week 2 Devotional: LOVE

The writer of the New Testament letter 1 John describes God in this way, “God is love” (1 John 4:8 NIV). His letter continues by explaining, “This is how God showed his love among us; He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him” (1 John 4:9 NIV). The life God intends for us is made possible in and through Jesus. The life God has for us is to be loved, receive God’s love, and then give the love we have received to others (Matthew 22:34-40). In his letter, John shares it this way, “since God so loved us,” through Jesus, “we also ought to love one another” (1 John 4:11 NIV).

Yes, “we love because” God “first loved us” (1 John 4:19 NIV).

 

During the Advent season, we are reminded that God loves us. In response to the One who loves us with an everlasting love revealed through Jesus, we love God and others. One of the ways for us to live in this love from God through Christ is by spending time with Jesus each day, focusing our heart and mind on the source of hope, love, joy and peace. This daily devotional for the second week of the season is designed to help you focus on the LOVE of God. The format is designed for you to use as much or little as you have time to use each day. Below is a guide for the weekly and daily use of this Advent devotional:

Each Week

• Answer the Advent Questions
• Watch the Advent Theme Bible Project video once, preferably on Sunday or Monday
• Listen to the hymn a few times throughout the week, perhaps on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, or whichever days the Holy Spirit guides you to listen

Each Day

• Read the brief portion of the hymn lyrics to begin
• Read the Bible verses for the day
• Think through your responses to the Daily Questions
• Pray
• Live in Response to God’s love

 

Week #2 Advent Questions:

You may find it helpful to write your responses to the following questions or to talk about them with a family member, friend, or your small group:

 

How did a week focused on hope help me to be more hope-filled?

 

How am I experiencing God’s love through the people in my life?

 

How am I responding to the life Jesus offers me?

 

What parts of my life need the healing power of Christ this week or season?

 

1 John 4:18 (NIV) states, “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear.” Am I allowing God’s perfect love to drive away my fears? If not, why?

 

Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28 NIV). Am I resting in Christ each day by giving my body the sleep it needs?

 

Am I resting each week by observing a partial or full Sabbath? If not, what do I need to stop doing so that I can have time to rest each day and observe the Sabbath?

 

Daily Hymn:

To prepare your heart and mind to focus on Christ, each day this week read part of the hymn lyrics from “Hark! the Herald Angels Sing” by Charles Wesley & George Whitefield:

Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace!

Hail the Sun of Righteousness!

Light and life to all he brings,

risen with healing in his wings.

Mild he lays his glory by,

born that we no more may die,

born to raise us from the earth,

born to give us second birth.

 

Advent Theme Video:

You are encouraged to watch the Bible Project video about the biblical theme of LOVE this week either using the link below or searching for it on Youtube:

Agape – Love by the Bible Project

 

Daily Bible Verses to Read:

Sunday – Isaiah 54:10 (God’s love for us will not be shaken)

 

Monday – Exodus 15:13 (God, “in your unfailing love you will lead them”)

 

Tuesday – Romans 5:1-5 (God’s love poured into our hearts)

 

Wednesday – Isaiah 63:7-9 (in his love and mercy God redeemed his people, his children)

 

Thursday – Lamentations 3:31-33 (God will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love)

 

Friday – 1 Corinthians 13 (love is…and these three remain: faith, hope, & love…)

 

Saturday the Sabbath – Psalm 32:8-10 (the Lord’s unfailing love surrounds those who trust him)

 

Daily Questions in Response to the Bible Verse(s):

What does this message from God shared through the Bible verse(s) reveal about LOVE?

 

How am I responding to God’s love?

 

Who needs to hear about God’s love revealed through Jesus today, this week, or later this season?

 

How am I going to share the love I have received from God with others?

 

Listen to the Hymn:

You are encouraged to listen to the hymn for this week at least on a few days either using the links below for the YouTube videos or using versions that are familiar to you that you have available:

“Hark! the Herald Angels Sing”

Amy Grant’s version

 

Matt Maher’s (Christmas with the Chosen) version

 

Pray:

Jesus, my Lord and my King,

I want to fully receive the love you give me.

Let your light illumine me so that I may live the life you intended for me.

Heal the parts of me that need your healing touch.

Heal our broken world so that we may be made whole again.

You humbly set aside your glory to love us as we are.

Your birth in Bethlehem and death in Jerusalem means

that we no longer have to die.

Thank you for what you have done for us!

When our time comes, raise us from the earth,

You, our source of second birth.

I join with the angels to sing glory to the King of kings!

Help me and all believers to love as you have loved us.

In the name of the One who is love I pray. Amen.

 

*If you do not have a Bible, consider downloading the YouVersion Bible App for free from the Apple App Store or Google Play for your smartphone or tablet. You can also use www.BibleGateway.com to look up and read various translations of Bible verses online.