Advent Devotional December 25, 2025

Scripture

1 John 4:7-16

7 Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Beloved, since God loved us so much, 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.

13 By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father has sent his Son as the Savior of the world. 15 God abides in those who confess that Jesus is the Son of God, and they abide in God. 16 So we have known and believe the love that God has for us.

God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them.

Devotion

The Rev. Dr. Jack Miller '25

Merry Christmas!

Maybe you woke this morning to find a few gifts beneath your tree—or found joy in watching someone unwrap a gift you chose with care. But there are more gifts to be opened, lovingly prepared, beautifully wrapped, and delivered to your soul.

The first is love. “Love is from God,” writes the author of 1 John. It’s a gift, freely given without strings or expiration. No batteries needed. No subscription to renew. And here’s the wonder: the more we share it, the more it grows. “Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another.” When we love others as God loves us, God’s love is perfected in us, and we become a living sign of God’s love at work in the world.

The second gift is the Holy Spirit—a gift of assurance. Think of this gift as a beautiful, framed portrait of the Spirit, suitable for hanging on the interior of your heart. Gazing at that image reminds us we belong to God and God abides in us.

The third and greatest gift is Jesus Christ, in whom the love of God is made visible. In Jesus, God comes close. He is the package in which love and Spirit arrive, the very embodiment of grace. “God sent his Son into the world so that we might live through him.” He reconciles us to God, covering our debt of sin. He is our Savior—yours, mine, and the world’s.

God wrapped heaven’s love in flesh and dwelt among us. This Christmas, may we receive these gifts with gratitude that inspires purpose.

May you be the wrapping paper, bearing Christ’s love to others.

May you become the delivery, carrying God’s love to a world in need.

May you become the reflection, shining the light of the One who first loved us.

Prayer

O Perfect Love, we thank You for all your gifts, especially the gift of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Help us worship Him in Spirit and truth. Make us a gift to others: a carol sung in service, a psalm lived in love, an offering of praise to You, the Giver of all good and perfect gifts. Amen.

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