December 20

" H e who does not love does not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him."

1 John 4:8-9

The practical evidence of the new birth is love for the children of God. He has demonstrated His perfect love toward us in the gift of His only begotten Son. Now we show our love to Him by our care for and interest in His own. Christ was sent that He might give life to those who were dead in trespasses and sins. That life is divine and he who possesses it loves others because God has so loved him. The next verse tells us that Christ also came to be the propitiation for our sins. On the basis of this we are justified freely by His grace. When one is converted to God the two things are true. He is both regenerated and justified. The child of God stands before His Father as free from guilt as if he had never sinned at all. Such is the fullness of God’s salvation which calls forth our adoring gratitude manifested in unselfish love.

Though higher than the highest,

Most mighty King Thou art,

Thy grace, and not Thy greatness,

First touched my rebel heart.

Thy sword, it might have slain me;

Thine arrows drunk my blood,

But ‘twas Thy cross subdued me,

And won my heart to God.