Sharing the love

Could God the Father's love be seen when He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus, for the salvation of the world? John 3:14-17; 1 John 4:9-10

Can His love be experienced when a companion cat purrs and our dog wags their tail when they're with us?

Can His love be felt through the bonding we have with other animals under our care?

Can His love be enjoyed from family, friends, and the kindness of strangers? 1 Corinthians 16:24; Hebrews 13:1-2; 3 John v.14

God sets the lonely in families. Psalm 68:6

The LORD will destroy the house of the proud:

But He will establish the border of the widow. Proverbs 15:25

Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world. James 1:27

If we'll open our eyes, we should see the Father's love and provision for us Matthew 6:11; Acts 14:17 as we view how He cares for the birds Matthew 6:26 and all His creation, too, Psalm 145:15-16 because He is good to all. Psalm 145:9

Ever since the world was created it has been possible to see the qualities of God that are not seen. I’m talking about His eternal power and about the fact that He is God. Those things can be seen in what He has made. So people have no excuse for what they do. Romans 1:20

If we look at beautiful cloud formations and the night sky, we may wonder, "Do these sights declare the Lord's power, glory, and love?"

The distant stars should not be visible to our naked eyes because they are so far away; but they are seen.

And the sun and moon could have been created to appear as a tiny specks but He made them to be larger for us to give light and more. Genesis 1:16-19

The heavens tell of the glory of God;

And their expanse declares the work of His hands. Psalm 19:1

Why does He share His love?

Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 1 John 4:8

O give thanks to the LORD; for He is good:

For his mercy endures forever. Psalm 136:1

At the birth of Jesus, shepherds were outside watching over their flocks at night.

Were they lonely and bored?

Have we been lonely and bored?

What happened to the shepherds?

God the Father shared His love.

In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock at night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood near them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. And so the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, Who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army of angels praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among people with whom He is pleased." Luke 2:8-14

Maybe the Father told His angels, "I want to tell the great news of the birth of My Son. Go to those shepherds. They need an encouraging word."

How did the shepherds respond?

When the angels had departed from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, "Let’s go straight to Bethlehem, then, and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us." And they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger. When they had seen Him, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. And all who heard it were amazed about the things which were told them by the shepherds. Luke 2:15-18

Suggestion:

Let's open our hearts to this love and see how the Father and the Good Shepherd, Jesus, John 10:11 give good things to those who ask. Matthew 7:11

Your thoughts?

R. Jason