The Love of God Manifest

**“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” (1 John 4:9 ESV).**

For millennia people sought God’s favor through rigid obedience to the law, offerings, and sacrifices. And for millennia people came up short. Sure, there were people whose hearts pleased God. Yet they too fell short. Then there were the ritual sacrifices, which provided blood to atone for the people’s sin. But there was no sacrifice that could produce in them God’s righteousness.

Then God put flesh to His love.

Jesus.

God in flesh come to remove our sin, to replace the death it brings with life in Christ.

Because God chose to manifest His love through Jesus, we can be made righteous in His eyes.

Jesus came with a purpose. The power that put skin on God’s Son also beckoned Him toward a sacrificial death (AND RESURRECTION!!!). It feels good celebrating the birth of our Savior. But it feels even better to know that birth had a reason. It was the **love** of God manifest.

Blessings on your Christmas celebration!