KNOWING YOUR BIBLE
December 19, 2021: Dear Friends, Merry Christmas to all! This is Christmas week, and today is the fourth Sunday in Advent. As most know, Advent is the time before Christmas when his followers prepare for the birth of the Christ Child, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on Christmas Day. Even though Jesus was born more than 2,000 years ago, Christians spend time anticipating his arrival. In the days leading up to Christmas Day, many contemplate on Jesus, who Jesus is, and the purpose of his life. Return to the previous 3 blogs by going to the website above left to learn more about Advent.
The word that is associated with the 4th Sunday in Advent is the word “Love”. Most of Jesus’ followers, when ask about Jesus, will talk about the love of Jesus for us. As we learn through the reading and studying of the Bible, all the populace that dwell in the world, not just a few people, but all people, are loved by Jesus.
Jesus spoke about love, directly and indirectly, in many of his teachings. He talked about the love of God, the love of family members and friends, and of love of neighbors and strangers. Jesus was a teacher and he taught us, as his followers, how to live a righteous life, showing love, compassion and mercy, in our dealings with others.
Love is the key feeling that other positive thoughts and actions flow from. Love influences how we think and act. Having a loving, forgiving,and compassionate heart, is directly and indirectly, acquired through learning and understanding Jesus and his teachings. As written by the Apostle Paul in 1st Corinthians, chapter 13. verse 13: “Now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.”
The Beatitudes, written in Matthew, chapters 5, 6, and 7, offer good, solid insight into how Jesus thinks and how Jesus teaches. If time allows, try to read these chapters daily for a few days to help in understanding and knowing Jesus better. Bible Verses on the Christmas Story of Jesus’ birth and early childhood can be found in Matthew, chapter 1, verses 18 through chapter 2, verse 23; and in Luke, chapter 1, verse 5 through chapter 2, verse 39. Other verses will be listed below to search for and read about “Love”. all verses are from the New Revised Standard (NRS) Version of the Bible.
May you Have A Blessed Christmas, and MAY GOD BLESS YOUR BIBLE STUDY THIS WEEK! BIBLE VERSES: Deuteronomy, chapter 6, verses 4-9; John, chapter 3, verse 16; John, chapter 11, verses 1-6, and verses 32-35; John, chapter 13, verse 1; Matthew, chapter 36b; Matthew, chapter 15, verses 29-39; Matthew, chapter 18, verses 2-5; and verse 10; Matthew, chapter 22, verses 34-40; Matthew, chapter 24, verses 34-40; Matthew, chapter 25, verses 34-40; Luke, chapter 5, verse 17; Luke, chapter 7, verses 22-37; Luke , chapter 10, verses 29-27; and 1st Corinthians, chapter 13, verses 1-13.