December 24, Christmas Eve Advent Candle Lighting - The Love of Jesus

I Corinthians 13

        If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.  If I have the prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.  If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, hut have not love, I gain nothing.
        Love is patient, love is kind.  It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
        Love never fails.  But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.  For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears.
        When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child.  When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.  How we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face.  Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
        And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.  But the greatest of these is love.

Devotion 

        This evening we light the fifth candle - the Christ candle.  This is the candle of love, for Jesus Christ is love incarnate, who humbled Himself to become human for our salvation.  It is through the love of Jesus that we are made whole.  Christ not only is the perfect example of love for us - Christ is the pure essence of love.  The love of Jesus is not theoretical, hypothetical or eve metaphorical, the love of Jesus Christ is tangible, here for us this very night.  Jesus, He always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres. Jesus never fails.  May the love of Jesus Christ fill our homes on this hollowed Christmas Eve. 

Prayer

        Gracious Lord, by the power of the Holy Spirit we ask that your mighty blessings fall upon all of us this Christmas eve.  For each individual here tonight we ask that you make this Christmas be a Christmas of hope, a Christmas of faith, and most of all a Christmas of love.  We ask this all in the name of  Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen
            

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