Here we are at the end of our study! Thank you for carving out time this holiday season to focus on the promises of God. We know now that these promises begin and end with His great love for us.

My dad has a cedar chest at the foot of his bed. Inside it are remnants of his mother’s life. As a child, I sat at his feet while he carefully unpacked the pieces it contained and introduced me to my grandmother. With great love and care, he showed me blankets she made and pillowcases she embroidered, and he even read to me from her Bible. But one treasure captured my attention more than any other: her wedding ring. For years, I tried it on, and each time it fell right off my finger. Then one evening, as my dad told those same familiar stories, he held the ring out to me and I slipped it over my finger. It fit! 

My grandmother’s ring is one of the greatest gifts I have ever received. This ring represents who I am and where I come from. As followers of Jesus, we wear a distinguishing mark as well. We wear His love. But unlike the ring, it’s not something we have to grow into. It’s always a perfect fit.

“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:35, NIV)

Love moved the heart of our heavenly Father to act on behalf of His children. He sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, to earth to rescue us by great sacrifice.

Great love can be talked about, and deep, passionate love can be expressed verbally or even written down, but love expressed in action proves that it actually exists. Romans 5:8 (CSB) says, “But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” We know God loves us because of the cross. This love is unselfish, compassionate, unconditional.

God gives us His love so we can give it away to others. This love will be our trademark and distinguish us as followers of Jesus.

May this season not only remind us of God's lavish and unconditional love for us but also move us to reach out and share that trademark love with the lonely, forgotten and grieving. And may that love and Christlike attitude not stop with Christmas but continue into the new year.

From all of us at P31 OBS, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

God bless,

Alicia

Let’s Chat!

How has "Pointing to the Promise" impacted you these past six weeks? {By commenting on the blog, you're giving P31 permission to use your comment in future posts and marketing.}