The Word Became Flesh: An Advent Devotional

 

Day 3: God Who Is Love

Scripture: John 1:1
"The Word was with God, and the Word was God."

Additional Reading: 1 John 4:7-16, John 17:20-26, 2 Corinthians 13:14

Reflection

Why does it matter that the Word was both with God and was God? Why is the distinction between Father, Son, and Spirit so important? Because it reveals something beautiful about the very nature of God: He is love. Billions of people around the world believe that God is a single, solitary, undifferentiated being—one singular, isolated person. But here's the problem: if that's what God is, such a God cannot be love in Himself, necessarily and eternally. He might be power, wisdom, or even holiness, but He can't be love in His very essence. Why? Because love demands an object. Love requires a beloved. You can't be in love if you're all alone.

But the glory of the Christian Gospel is that in Jesus Christ, God reveals Himself to be Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. These three are one God, the same in substance, equal in power and glory. Our one God, whose singular being is indivisible, is nevertheless three persons—Father, Son, and Spirit, each turned to the other in fellowship and love, eternally.

God did not become love when, in desperate loneliness, He made us. No! He was love eternally in the communion of the blessed Trinity. Before you existed, before the world was made, God was love—Father loving Son, Son loving Father, Spirit proceeding from both in perfect love.

And here's the stunning reality: In His great mercy and grace, God sweeps us up into that fellowship through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. We are invited into the love that has existed between Father, Son, and Spirit from all eternity. This is what it means to be loved by God and to love Him in return.

Personal Application

1. How does understanding God as Trinity deepen your appreciation for His love?
2. What does it mean to you that you're invited into the eternal fellowship of love between Father, Son, and Spirit?
3. How should knowing that "God is love" at His very core change the way you relate to Him today?

Prayer

Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—thank You that You are love, not because You need me, but because love has always been who You are in Your eternal communion. Thank You for inviting me into that fellowship of love through Jesus Christ. Help me grasp how wide and long and high and deep is Your love for me. Let that love transform me from the inside out. Amen.