The first letter of John, written by the apostle John (the one who Jesus loved), appears to be written to believers who were being challenged in their faith in a God of love. False teachers had created division and apostasy was spreading in the church. Sound familiar?

Today there are numerous challenges to our faith. These are hard to ignore, even during the joyful time of Advent. Christmas is trivialized. The very foundation of our belief is ignored, questioned, mocked, even condemned as hateful. During these dark times, one may ask where the love of God has gone? Why is there so much pain, division, confusion, aggression? Surely a loving God would not allow such suffering.

The truth is, suffering is a result of our fallen world, our fallen nature. What was God’s answer? Love.  

John writes in 1 John 4:9-10, “This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” 

God sent His son to save the same messy world we find ourselves in today. Jesus didn’t need to set His feet on our dusty soil – but He did. What, then, should be our response?

1 John 4:7, “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Together, let’s immerse ourselves in the mess, armed with love. Only God’s love can transform the human heart.”

As we remember Jesus’ sacrificial gift of living life with us here, let’s turn to the power that cuts through the confusion. Let’s imitate Christ as we shine God’s light and love this Advent season!