December Devotional

Isn't the Love of Jesus Something Wonderful!

Hello! I was asked to do this devotional from Pastor Gene Green and I was thrilled to say "Yes!", as I love to talk! I have a few good friends that I love to get together with and we tease each other that we have to get in our 25,000 words in an hour or two. Sometimes this turns into longer, which then our wonderful husbands give us grace. But in all sincerity I would like to write about, meditate on, the love of God.

I can't believe it's December 2008 already! Snow flying, shoppers bustling, Salvation Army ringing the bells, churches getting ready for Christmas programs, Christmas music everywhere, Christmas trees on top of cars, etc. If you are like me, I have a hard time keeping this special day, December 25, 2008, as precious as Jesus is, or should be to each and everyone of us who are born again believers. I am so embarrassed when we go to Grandma's to open gifts and my kids say "That's it?" We discuss being thankful for everything, but still my children aren't getting it. Could I dare say maybe the reason children today aren't "getting it" is because we as Mothers, Fathers, Grandmothers, Grandfathers, Aunts, and Uncles need to fall back in love with our Savior? Does not the Scriptures tell us that God is Love? (I John 4:8) God sent his only son because he loved us soooo much that he was willing to sacrifice His only Son. Just think on that! Could you love someone or many people sooo much that you would sacrifice your son?

Today in my Sunday School class we were talking about emerging churches, mega churches, etc., and how so many people are attracted to this form of modern worship because as we have all heard "It's entertaining." And yet I want to propose a different thought. Maybe these churches are packed because people are seeking something, but they just don't know what. What happened to our Bible preaching, Bible believing churches? Why are we not growing and these other forms are?? Could it be that we are more judging rather than showing God's Love? I wonder, if we as a church would stop criticizing the unsaved and start showing them His Love, if it would make a difference?

I was a single Mom at age 19. I can say that Proverbs 10:12 is so true. Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins. I am now married and have 2 more precious children. No one comes up to me and asks me any questions about my past. My husbands love has covered all that. How more so does our Heavenly Father! He has forgiven our sins and removed them as far as the East is from the West! (Psalms 103:12) Wow!

Then we could think about the fact Jesus was born in human form as a baby! Who doesn't love babies?! Jesus came as each one of our own children have come into this world! There was an adoring Father and Mother who marveled at the miracle of this precious child! Now, we realize Jesus' birth was different from one of our children's birth in that it was a spiritual conception not a human conception. Even more of a miracle!

Could we as born again believers fall in love with our Savior and be renewed in him? Could we ask the Lord help us to love others as HE does? I will tell this little story and be done. I have been helping out at our Church on Wednesday nights with the 4 year olds on up to 12 year olds for a couple of years. When I first started helping out there was a group of 10, 11 & 12 years old boys that were very undesirable. They were smelly, vulgar, dirty etc. I didn't want to go near them and yet I knew this is not what God wanted. I decided to pray about this and asked God to help me see them, love them as he does. Well, the next Wednesday, to my amazement, I didn't see dirty clothes, dirty hair, etc, I saw these boys as simple sinners who needed God's saving grace just like I did at one point in my life. I challenge you to pray for God to open your eyes to what's important. You will be amazed at what he shows you!

The scriptures also tell us in James 1:2 to count it all joy when ye fall into diver's temptations. I find it meditating to think it says count it all joy when YE FALL. It doesn't say count it all joy when ye get UP. Maybe this year with the financial problems besetting a lot of us, maybe, just maybe this year we as Parents, Grandparents, Aunts and Uncles will "Get It."

May God Bless each and everyone of you richly this Christmas Season.

Mrs. Stephanie Larsen
Counselor at Access Women's Center, Madison
Member of Bible Baptist Church of Utica, Stoughton