The Advent season is upon us and we’re reflecting on the themes of Hope, Love, Peace, and Joy this month as we prepare to celebrate Christmas. This second week’s focus is on Love:

IN WORD – One of the most persistent questions from atheists and agnostics is why a good God would let bad things happen to good people. That question can’t undermine the truth of our faith, but when we are the good person to whom bad things happen, it wreaks havoc with our intimacy with the Father. If we want our relationship with God to impact the world, however, we can’t be wavering between assurance and despair. We have to be convinced that neither life nor death nor anything else can separate us from His love.
A few verses earlier, Paul made an astounding statement about all things working together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose (v. 28). That sweeping promise, coupled with that of verses 38 and 39, is the key to constancy. There’s no need to vacillate between assurance and despair when we truly believe that all things are working toward a good purpose for us and that nothing can separate us from Jesus’ love. When we hold fast to those truths, the world cannot move us away from our faith or our joy. We have a solid rock to stand on. Nothing can come between us and the Kingdom.
IN DEED – We need to remember that God watches over us with a love that cannot be quenched. We alone have stability in an unstable world. We’re blessed to know the King and the Kingdom that last, being irreversibly attached to them. Whatever insecurity you feel on that point, it’s an illusion. Don’t fall for it. An uncertain world needs to see people living in certainty. That doesn’t mean that you aren’t ever allowed to struggle or that you need to wear a mask in public, but it’s important to stop doubting what God has said is true. The opportunity a shattered world affords us to demonstrate an unshakable Kingdom is compelling. Take that opportunity. Trust the love of a sovereign God. “Faith is a living and unshakeable confidence, a belief in the grace of God so assured that a man would die a thousand deaths for its sake.” — Martin Luther (in “God With Us,” by Chris Tiegreen)

Do you need to be assured of Christ’s love for you? Take time to meditate on Psalms 136, 138, 139, Romans 8, and Ephesians 1 this week, a passage a day. Ask the Holy Spirit to warm your heart and experience anew Christ’s loving and ever-present embrace. Have a blessed week! – from Singapore, Pastor Sam