GOD_WITH_US_BRINGS_LOVE.rtf

Devotional

Day 1: Loved First — Not a Prize Earned

You are not loved because you have your life cleaned up or because you earned favor. God’s love is the ground beneath your feet, the first word, not the last reward. Even when circumstances look confusing or shame-filled, the truth remains: love came to you before you could merit it, shaping your story from the start.

This means your identity is rooted in being beloved, not in performance. Let that settle in your heart today: you already stand on a love that began long before your success or failure. Live from that place, and not in fear that you must prove yourself to be accepted.

"When Israel was a child I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son. The more they were called, the more they went away; they kept sacrificing to the Baals and burning offerings to idols. Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk; I took them up by their arms, but they did not know that I healed them. I led them with cords of kindness, with the bands of love, and I became to them as one who eases the yoke on their jaws, and I bent down to them and fed them." (Hosea 11:1–4, ESV)

Reflection: Name one thing you’ve believed you must earn to receive love (approval, success, forgiveness). What is one small habit today that would help you rest in God’s unconditional love instead of striving for it?

Day 2: Choosing Faith When Facts Make No Sense

Love sometimes asks for a trust that outruns the evidence. When Joseph chose to stay with Mary and when Mary said yes to an impossible promise, they stepped into decisions that endangered reputation, security, and plans. Real love asks you to believe God’s presence even when the situation contradicts what seems reasonable.

Choosing that trust is not a one-time emotional surge but a steady decision to obey despite fear. You won’t always feel certainty; courage often looks like simple, faithful acts repeated day after day, small steps taken because you are convinced God is present in the unknown.

"When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?" (Psalm 56:3–4, ESV)

Reflection: Identify one specific fear tied to a decision you face (reputation, finances, relationships). What is one concrete step of trust you can take today that moves you forward despite that fear?

Day 3: God Meets Us in Hidden Waiting Rooms

Loneliness and confusion do not mean God has left you; often they are the space where God meets you gently. Mary’s visit to Elizabeth shows how God provides affirmation amid isolation—an unexpected voice that names what God is doing. In quiet seasons, God can use a person, a verse, or a small moment to remind you that you are not alone.

Pay attention to the subtle ways God speaks—a whisper more than a spectacle. When the world neglects or misunderstands you, God’s presence arrives not always with fanfare but with steady encouragement that confirms your calling and soothes your anxiety.

"And he said, 'Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.' And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper." (1 Kings 19:11–12, ESV)

Reflection: Who in your life could be the "Elizabeth" God might use to confirm or encourage you? Reach out to that person this week with a specific sentence of need or gratitude.

Day 4: Love Is a Habit Woven Through Hard Days

Love is not only shown by grand moments but by patient, ordinary faithfulness. Mary and Joseph’s devotion was revealed over years of quiet care, daily sacrifices, and persistent presence. Choosing love looks like staying when it’s easier to leave, listening when you’d rather be right, and forgiving when your pride is wounded.

Make love a practice: small decisions repeated—gentle words, timely apologies, acts of service—that shape your character more than sporadic heroics. The community and marriage and family you long for are built by these habitual choices to reflect God’s patience and kindness.

"I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." (Ephesians 4:1–3, ESV)

Reflection: Pick one relationship where love feels strained. What is one specific, repeatable action you can do this week (a short call, a helping hand, a written note) to choose love in that relationship?

Day 5: God's Love Overflowing Through Ordinary People

God’s love is meant to move outward through you; it’s not a private comfort but a public power. The love that lived in Mary and Joseph did not stay between them—it bore Jesus, who made love the mark of his followers. When God fills you, the natural result is compassion and generosity toward others.

This overflow may look like sharing your time, your table, your story, or your resources. Small, consistent generosity—seen and unseen—becomes a testimony of God’s presence. Ask God to fill you so that your life becomes a channel of healing and hope to someone nearby.

"Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all." (Acts 4:32–33, ESV)

Reflection: Who is one person or family within walking distance of your life who needs practical love this month? Name one concrete way you will let God’s love flow through you to meet that need (a meal, time, money, or a listening hour).

Sermon Summary

of the Sermon:**

Today’s sermon, “God With Us: Brings Love,” explored the profound reality that God’s presence among us is the ultimate expression of love. We journeyed through the story of Mary and Joseph, not just as a tale of human affection, but as a supernatural love story that changed the world. Their relationship, tested by extraordinary circumstances, became a vessel for God’s love to enter humanity through Jesus. We reflected on how God is love, how He gives love in our moments of fear and uncertainty, and how His love is meant to flow through us to others. The story of Mary and Joseph invites us to see love not as a feeling, but as a courageous, sacrificial choice rooted in God’s own heart.

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Key Takeaways

1. God’s Love Is the Foundation, Not the Reward: The story of Mary and Joseph reminds us that love is not something we earn by being good or having our lives together. God’s love is the starting point—the foundation on which everything else is built. Even in confusion, fear, or scandal, God’s love is already present, shaping our story before we understand it.
2. Love Often Requires Courageous Trust: Joseph’s decision to stay with Mary, and Mary’s willingness to say yes to God, both required a trust that went beyond what made sense. Real love is not always comfortable or easy; it often asks us to risk our reputation, our comfort, and our plans. Trusting God’s love means stepping into the unknown, believing that He is with us even when the path is unclear.
3. God’s Love Finds Us in Our Loneliness: Mary’s journey to Elizabeth was marked by uncertainty and isolation, yet God met her with confirmation and encouragement through Elizabeth’s greeting. In our own seasons of loneliness or misunderstanding, God often sends us reminders—through people, scripture, or quiet moments—that we are seen, loved, and not alone.
4. Choosing Love Is a Daily Decision: The love between Mary and Joseph was not a one-time event but a daily choice, especially as they faced challenges together. Likewise, God invites us to choose love every day—not just in grand gestures, but in small acts of faithfulness, forgiveness, and kindness. Love grows deeper not by avoiding hardship, but by walking through it together with God.
5. God’s Love Flows Through Us to Others: The love that began with God, and was embodied in Mary and Joseph, is meant to flow outward. Jesus commands us to love one another as He has loved us—not as a suggestion, but as the defining mark of His followers. When we open our hearts to God, His love doesn’t just fill us; it overflows, becoming a testimony to the world of who He is.

Bible Study Guide

**Small Group Bible Study Guide: God With Us Brings Love**

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### Bible Reading

- **1 John 4:16 (NIV):** "And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them."
- **Luke 1:42-45 (NIV):** "In a loud voice she exclaimed: 'Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!'"
- **Matthew 1:20-21 (NIV):** "But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, 'Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.'"
- **John 13:34-35 (NIV):** "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

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### Observation Questions

According to 1 John 4:16, what does it mean to "live in love" and how is that connected to living in God?
In Luke 1:42-45, how does Elizabeth respond to Mary’s arrival, and what effect might this have had on Mary?
What instructions does the angel give Joseph in Matthew 1:20-21, and what reasons does the angel give for Joseph to trust and not be afraid?
In John 13:34-35, what is the new command Jesus gives, and what does He say will be the result if His followers obey it?

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### Interpretation Questions

The sermon described God’s love as the foundation, not something we earn. How does this understanding change the way someone might approach God, especially in times of fear or failure?
Both Mary and Joseph had to make difficult choices that required trust in God’s love. What might have been some of their fears or doubts, and how did God address them?
Elizabeth’s greeting to Mary was a source of encouragement during a lonely and uncertain time. Why do you think God often uses other people to remind us of His love?
Jesus commands His followers to love one another as He has loved them. What are some ways this kind of love is different from the love we see in the world?

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### Application Questions

The sermon said that God’s love is the starting point, not a reward for having it all together. Is there an area in your life where you feel you have to “earn” God’s love? How might you approach God differently if you truly believed His love is already present?
Joseph risked his reputation and comfort to obey God and love Mary. Is there a situation in your life where loving someone might cost you something? What would courageous love look like in that situation?
Mary sought out Elizabeth during a time of uncertainty and was met with encouragement. Who has God used in your life to remind you that you are seen and loved? Is there someone you could encourage this week who might be feeling alone?
The sermon talked about choosing love as a daily decision, not just a one-time event. What is one small, practical way you can choose love in your relationships this week, especially when it’s hard?
Jesus said that loving others is the mark of His followers. Think about your daily interactions—at home, work, or in your neighborhood. Is there a relationship where you sense God inviting you to let His love flow through you? What’s one step you can take?
When have you experienced God’s love most clearly in a time of confusion, fear, or loneliness? How did that experience shape your faith or your willingness to love others?
The story of Mary and Joseph shows that love often means walking through hardship together. Is there someone you need to walk alongside right now, even if it’s uncomfortable or inconvenient? What might that look like this week?

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Sermon Quotes

Mary and Joseph’s is a true human love story, but it is also a supernatural love story that involves you and me and every human who has walked or will ever walk this earth.

This is the nature of our God: Love in its purest form is the love of God. Love was there in the beginning, and love will be with us in the end.

The very expression of God’s love was and is in creation. Love was even there when the world fell into sin and rebellion. In Mary and Joseph’s story, love was taking the form of humanity in the Messiah, Jesus.

Can you imagine what Joseph was feeling? Should I divorce Mary? He surely could have. Mary would’ve been stoned if he went through with it, and that would’ve brought shame to her family. Instead, Joseph chose love and trust.

Mary and Joseph’s love wasn’t just the love of two human beings coming together. It was based on the foundations of God’s love. When they opened their hearts to the Father, God’s love began to flow right through them.

They surely did not know what they said yes to. A long journey to Bethlehem, the birth of the Messiah, the fulfillment of prophecy. Yet they were in it together, and love carried them through what they could not foresee.

Every day that passed, Mary and Joseph chose love, and that love continued to deepen and grow. Then the emotional bombshell goes off, and Joseph finds out that Mary is pregnant.

Mary and Joseph were in it together—a long journey to Bethlehem, the birth of the Messiah Jesus Christ, the fulfillment of prophecy: the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords.

Love was there in the beginning, and love will be with us in the end. The very expression of God’s love was and is in creation—even when the world fell into sin and rebellion.

She knew the truth, but how would everyone else see? What was going to happen to her? Then came confirmation that God was with her, and I’m sure that was so encouraging to Mary.

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GOD_WITH_US_BRINGS_LOVE.rtf

Devotional

Day 1: Loved First — Not a Prize Earned

Day 2: Choosing Faith When Facts Make No Sense

Day 3: God Meets Us in Hidden Waiting Rooms

Day 4: Love Is a Habit Woven Through Hard Days

Day 5: God's Love Overflowing Through Ordinary People

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Quotes

Chatbot

GOD_WITH_US_BRINGS_LOVE.rtf

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