God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him
—1 John 4:16
I am brought to my knees by a commercial on television. A newborn baby is placed on his mother’s chest, his head turned toward her face. From his little wrinkled countenance, his eyes immediately scrutinize his mother’s face, looking with intensity and love at the one in whom his search for hope and trust and life itself resides. I feel as if I am looking at a miracle and at a truth. We are born from love, we are made of love, and we search for love.
Everything good springs from love. All of creation comes from God’s power and love. He was so in love with his creation that he sent Love itself in the form of his son. He wanted to show us the truth and power of love.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Jesus spoke these words, understanding that the creative force of the universe not only loved the creation but was love itself. The miracle and mystery of creation are testaments to the creator’s unfathomable genius and love—from the beginning when massive exploding stars produced all the elements from which all matter is made, through the formation of the galaxies, the mountains and the oceans of our precious planet, and the emergence of abundant and exuberant life.
In this season of Advent — even in the tumult that the year 2020 has brought to us — as we await once more the coming of the Messiah, how can we not feel ourselves enveloped by the hope and assurance that are promised to us by the immeasurable gift God has given — to become flesh and blood just like us and to live on this earth with us in a quest to show us what love is and what life can be.
Go outside. Listen to the song of the birds, breathe in the crisp air, look at the amazing structure of a bright orange pumpkin, gaze at the heavens in the silence of a black winter night, revel in the sounds of children playing, enjoy a cup of hot coffee. All of these things are gifts to us from the creator. How can we in turn not respond with love?
Come, Lord Jesus, come. We welcome you in love.
O God Most High, help us to embrace the miracle of redeeming love that this Advent season celebrates. Enable us to see the unspeakable mystery of your breaking into our human world and humbly living here on this earth with us. We have no words to express our awe and reverence in the face of this towering miracle. Grant that our hearts and actions reflect the fathomless love that you offer us and that we live every day of this season and beyond as your witnesses and ambassadors to all people. Amen
Betty Schroeder
Read other Advent 2020 Devotionals or download the book as a PDF.