Revcort's Ramblings

Scripture Focus
“In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. 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.” – 1 John 4:9–10 (ESV)

Devotional Thought

Advent is not merely a season of tradition; it is the declaration that God has reached down into our darkness. The coming of Christ is the greatest display of divine love in all of history. Left to ourselves, we would never have found God, but in His mercy, He came to us.

John reminds us that love is not that we loved God first, but that He loved us and sent His Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Isaiah foretold this truth when he wrote, “The people who walk in darkness will see a great light” (Isaiah 9:2). That light is Jesus Christ. His coming means hope for the hopeless, mercy for the guilty, and life for the dead.

Unlike man-made religions that rely on human effort to reach up to God, Christianity proclaims the opposite: God Himself came down to rescue us. Advent is the story of a God who intervened, who refused to leave us in the dark, who gave His Son so that we could live through Him.

This Christmas season, may we pause to celebrate not only His coming into the world but also His coming into our lives. Every act of love, every prayer of gratitude, every word of praise should echo the angels’ song: “Glory to God in the highest.”

Reflection Questions

1. How does remembering that God reached down to you—not you reaching up to Him—change the way you view salvation?
2. In what ways are you tempted to turn Christianity into “religion” instead of relationship?
3. How can you intentionally keep Christ at the center of your Advent and Christmas celebrations this year?
4. What are some ways you can live out the angels’ song—“Glory to God in the highest”—in your daily life?

Closing Prayer

Father, thank You for reaching down into my darkness and sending Your Son, Jesus Christ, as the light of the world. Forgive me for the times I have taken Your mercy and love for granted. Teach me to celebrate Advent with humility, gratitude, and worship, remembering that I love You only because You first loved me. Help me keep Christ at the center of this season and my life. May my words and actions bring glory to You, echoing the song of the angels: “Glory to God in the highest.” In Jesus’ name, Amen.