Let me ask you something—have you ever watched someone’s life completely change because of love?
Maybe you’ve seen a hardened heart softened when someone showed them kindness they didn’t deserve. Or maybe you’ve seen someone stuck in bitterness finally set free after they experienced forgiveness.
Love has a way of breaking chains. It has a way of healing wounds and lighting up the darkest places.
And no love does that more powerfully than the love of God.
That’s what we’re talking about today—the transforming power of God’s love.
I'm Pastor Loren Christensen, and this is A Word from the Vine. Let’s read from 1 John 4:9–10.
“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. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”
God’s love is not just a feeling. It’s an action. And it’s an action that changes everything.
God’s Love Was Made Visible
John says, “The love of God was made manifest.” In other words, it was put on display.
We didn’t have to guess what God’s love looked like—He showed us. He sent Jesus.
And what did Jesus do? He didn’t just speak about love—He lived it. He healed the sick, fed the hungry, touched the untouchable, and forgave the unforgivable.
Then He gave the ultimate gift—His life.
Romans 5:8 says:
“But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
The cross wasn’t an accident. It wasn’t Plan B. It was God’s plan all along—to step into our mess, to take the punishment we deserved, and to open the door to forgiveness and freedom.
That’s love.
God’s Love Brings Us Life
Did you notice what verse 9 said? God sent His Son so that we might live through Him.
You see, sin doesn’t just make us bad. It makes us dead.
Ephesians 2:1 says:
“And you were dead in the trespasses and sins.”
But God’s love doesn’t leave us there. It brings us back to life.
When we receive Christ, we’re not just forgiven—we’re made new.
2 Corinthians 5:17 says:
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”
That’s transformation.
You know, I’ve seen this firsthand. I’ve watched people come to Christ, and it’s like the light comes back into their eyes.
I’ve seen marriages healed, addictions broken, and hearts that were once hard and cold made tender and kind.
And I’ll tell you this—it’s not because they suddenly decided to be better people.
It’s because they encountered the love of God.
And His love didn’t just forgive them. It changed them.
So here’s the question for us today—how is God’s love transforming you?
Because God’s love isn’t meant to just flow to us. It’s meant to flow through us.
1 John 4:11 says:
“Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”
That means forgiving the people who have hurt us.
It means serving the people who can’t pay us back.
It means showing kindness to the people the world overlooks.
Not because they deserve it, but because we didn’t deserve it either.
And yet, God loved us anyway.
So this Christmas, let’s do more than talk about God’s love. Let’s live it.
Is there someone you need to forgive?
Is there someone you need to serve?
Is there someone you need to tell about the love of Jesus?
Don’t let this season pass by without letting God’s love move through you.
Because when you do, you’re not just celebrating Christmas—you’re living Christmas.
Father, thank You for showing us what real love looks like. Thank You for sending Your Son, not just to forgive us but to transform us.
Lord, I pray for everyone listening today. May Your love fill their hearts and overflow into their lives. Help us to love like You love—to forgive, to serve, and to give ourselves for others.
We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Thank you for joining me today on A Word from the Vine.
Next time, we’ll wrap up this series by talking about how we can live out the love of Christmas every single day. I hope you’ll join me for that.
Until then, may God’s love continue to transform your heart and your life.
God bless you.
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