“In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.”

1 John 4:10–12

Christmastime is a time for love — to show love to family, friends, and neighbors. With all the festivities surrounding us, this should be easy, right? For some of us, it may be. But for others, this holiday is less of an easy demonstration of love, and more a test of it. Perhaps you know you’ll spend the day with that family member who, simply put, just really drives you crazy. Maybe you’ll be spending the holidays alone despite wanting to show love to others (or wanting desperately to receive it).

Or for many, this is your first Christmas without someone you love dearly.

Whether you are excited about the coming celebration of Jesus’ birth or dreading the feelings it may stir up inside of you, there is a shared need among us all. No matter where we find ourselves on this spectrum, the call to love at Christmastime (and all the time) highlights our dependence on God. In the verses we read today,

John says, “Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”

"No sacrifice of our time or energy could ever compare to the sacrifice of Christ, but in this season we have a unique opportunity to imitate Him."

Matt & Lauren Chandler

God’s love for us moved far beyond “feelings” and into decisive action. He loved us so much that He sent Jesus to be born, to live, and to die for our sins. In response, we ought to offer a similar response to those around us. No sacrifice of our time or energy could ever compare to the sacrifice of Christ, but in this season we have a unique opportunity to imitate Him. See, love is not simply how we feel. Love for others, like the love of Jesus, is made manifest in our actions.

So, no matter how you may “feel” — whether you find yourself in the “holiday spirit” or like each day of this time of year is another hurdle for you to clear — Advent ought to be a welcome reminder of your complete dependence on God and to demonstrate His love. Every day of this season provides a reminder that apart from God, we cannot truly know love, and without Him, we cannot rightly give it.

Excerpted from session three of Family Advent Devotional by Matt and Lauren Chandler. Published by Lifeway Press®. © 2021 The Village Church. Learn more.

Matt Chandler serves as lead teaching pastor at The Village Church in Flower Mound, Texas, and president of Acts 29, a network of churches planting churches. He is a sought-after teacher and preacher and has authored several books and Bible studies. He hopes for people to know and worship the triune God rightly, that both our minds and hearts would be full of and shaped by Him.

Lauren Chandler is a wife, mother of three, and worship leader at The Village Church in Flower Mound, Texas, where her husband, Matt, is the lead teaching pastor. She loves to stir people's hearts to know, receive, and connect with the God of the universe who loves them, particularly through worship. She enjoys studying God's Word and writing.

Celebrate Christ Together

This Advent, reflect on and celebrate the story of Jesus’ birth as a family through this video-enhanced 25-day devotional. The book is divided into four weeks that each focus on a major theme of Advent: hope, peace, love, and joy.

Read a free session of Family Advent Devotional.