How fitting that the first devotion for December be on “God is love.” He is the perfect embodiment of love. He is the perfect Giver of love. He is the perfect example of love. He is the perfect sacrifice of love. He is the perfect definition of love. He is the perfect description of love.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son…” Can there be anything more definitive of love than that? Can there be any greater example of love than that? Can there be any greater action to show love than that? Jesus once said, “Greater love has no man than this than a man lay down his life for his friends.” He knew whereof He spoke. He saw it modeled. He became that instrument of love in action.
No wonder hope and security can be only be found in Christ. Nothing horizontal can make that happen because only in a God of love can true hope and security be found.
I like the way Tripp ends his devotion:
The One how is love sent His Son of love to be a sacrifice of love so you and I could be rescued by His love and rest in that love forever and ever.
“Father, thank you for your love for me. Thank you for being love. Thank you for being an example of love. Thank you for giving love in an act so off the charts it is unexplainable and incomprehensible. The Incarnation. The Resurrection. Two events that show your deep love. And one more. My salvation. Thank you.”
“You have one place of HOPE, SECURITY, and REST. It is found in these words: GOD IS LOVE”
Tripp defines it pretty specifically….
You have ONE place…. “GOD IS LOVE”
This means that placing my hope, security, or rest on anything other than God is fruitless. It will lead to disappointment, to pain, to sorrow, to bitterness, to anger, to jealousy…. the list of negative emotions go on and on.
I know I have been there… There are times I go back. There are times I expect creation in all it’s brokenness to provide in areas it cannot. Sometimes I place my hope and security in the hopeless and insecure.
Sometimes I seek rest from that which is restless. That is because I too am broken.
I know when I shift my focus and expectations from creation to creator, things change. Many times it is only my outlook, my attitude, my expectations… but sometimes this is the spark that is needed to help me count my blessings for today.
I second your prayer Bill, without the love of God; Hope, Security, and Rest simply are not possible. Now I need to bask in His love so I can enjoy the benefits of it.
Ryan S.
No matter how hard I try, I can never fathom God’s great love for us. Maybe, I’m not supposed to fathom, but only accept with love and thanks in return.
Blessings, Bill!