Day 5:
I John 4:10
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.
I first heard the word “propitiation” when I started listening to John Piper and Mark Driscoll sermons. I still have to look it up from time to time because it isn’t a word burned into my brain yet. From wikipedia:
In Christianity, propitiation is a theological term denoting that by which God is rendered propitious, i.e., that ‘satisfaction’ or ‘appeasement’ by which it becomes consistent with his character and government to pardon and bless sinners. The propitiation does not procure his love or make him loving; rather, it renders it consistent for him to exercise his love towards sinners.
It is God’s wrath being satisfied and because it is, we are reconciled to Him.
It is the ultimate gift.
The other scripture for day 5 was Acts 20:35:
In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
God is a giver. He gives us life in the first place. All good things come from Him. His ultimate gift was that of Jesus, being our atonement for our sins.
How can you and I express this generosity to others – not just in the Christmas season but every day?
