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“This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins” (1 John 4:10).

Several weeks ago we shared a message titled  "A Bundle Of Joy" illustrated by an ad I had seen during a football game. I stated in that message that many ads are tolerable at best and some offensive, but today I illustrate with another ad that I actually find very encouraging.

It shows the employees of a concert hall working very hard behind the scenes to get the venue prepared for a concert. One older janitor begins to sing as he works and it's loud enough for the other employees hear him. Apparently he sings his favorite song, "What the world needs now is love, sweet love" and they really seem to appreciate it.

So they buy him a black tuxedo jacket from Amazon (now you know the ad) and surprise him with it by placing him in front of the microphone and presenting the jacket to him. The employees are gathered in the seating area and he begins to sing. He sounds great as he launches into a longer portion of the song, in part due to the sound reinforcement.

The ad conveys kindness, humility and appreciation for co-workers, all qualities that are Biblical and so needed today. (link to a video of the ad is posted below)

The song was a popular song that came out about 60 years ago. It's not a Christmas song or even Christian although it does have a very true biblical message. What the world needs now and always has needed is love and more specifically the love of God expressed through Jesus Christ.

Our daily verse is a great statement to memorize and hide deep within our hearts: "This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins" (1 John 4:10).

It’s not a verse necessarily associated with Christmas but a message of the greatest and most lasting gift God has provided. He loves us and acted on that love by sending His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. May we rejoice in this truth every day and may it never get old! Let us live with an attitude of praise to the Lord for His lasting gift!

Bible teacher Bob Utley writes, "The New Testament is unique among the world religions. Typically religion is mankind seeking God, but Christianity is God seeking fallen mankind! The wonderful truth is not our love for God, but His love for us. He has sought us through our sin and self, our rebellion and pride. The glorious truth of Christianity is that God loves fallen mankind and has initiated and maintained a life-changing contact."

It is our prayer that each of you experience abiding joy in the lasting gift of love that God has provided through His redeemer Son, Jesus!

Be encouraged today, Hebrews 3:13

Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Daily prayer:   Father, though we often express thanks for the gift of Your Son, we do it again as we can never express it enough. We are so grateful for His gift of salvation that has everlasting value for every generation and abiding joy for all who walk in His ways. Amen.