Lord, Make us a People of Love
By Ryan Dawson
Lord, make us a people of love. The world needs Your love. As we journey through Advent, our hearts are both hopeful and heavy. Hopeful, because we remember that God has come near in Jesus. Heavy, because we cannot ignore the pain, violence, and brokenness that surround us.
We are deeply grieved as we witness the horrific killing of our Jewish brothers and sisters in Australia and we stand against this hatred. We are troubled by the ongoing wars in Ukraine and other places around the world, where lives are shattered, and families are displaced because of hatred and greed. We lament the broken relationships and family strain we experience and see in our homes and communities. And if we are honest, we also see the darkness within ourselves—where pride, self-righteousness, judgment, and prejudice quietly lurk.
So, we pray again: Lord, make us a people of love.
This week in Advent, we light the candle of love. Its gentle flame reminds us that love is not an abstract idea—it is the very heart of God. Scripture tells us plainly:
“God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.” (1 John 4:16, NLT)
Love did not remain distant or theoretical. Love came to us. Love took on flesh. Love entered our broken world in the person of Jesus.
“For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16, NLT)
Jesus came in love and for love—to redeem us from sin, to restore what has been shattered, and to reconcile us back to God. Even when we were far from Him, God moved toward us in mercy:
“But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” (Romans 5:8, NLT)
This is the love we celebrate during Advent. And it is this love that reshapes us, transforming our hearts, so we can love as God loves.
“We love each other because he loved us first.” (1 John 4:19, NLT)
Lord, help us to receive Your love—not striving for it, not earning it, but resting in it. Help us to remain in Your love when fear, anger, or grief threaten to harden our hearts. And help us to extend Your love to others—especially when it is costly, inconvenient, or uncomfortable.
May the world know who You are through Your people. As Your Word declares:
“The LORD is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.” (Exodus 34:6, NLT)
Lord, in this Advent season, form us into a people who love as You love—deeply, humbly, and sacrificially.
Thank You for loving us first.
Thank You for sending us, Jesus.
Thank You for making us a people of love who reflect you. Amen.
Merry Christmas, With much love, Ryan
Lord, make us a people of love. The world needs Your love. As we journey through Advent, our hearts are both hopeful and heavy. Hopeful, because we remember that God has come near in Jesus. Heavy, because we cannot ignore the pain, violence, and brokenness that surround us.
We are deeply grieved as we witness the horrific killing of our Jewish brothers and sisters in Australia and we stand against this hatred. We are troubled by the ongoing wars in Ukraine and other places around the world, where lives are shattered, and families are displaced because of hatred and greed. We lament the broken relationships and family strain we experience and see in our homes and communities. And if we are honest, we also see the darkness within ourselves—where pride, self-righteousness, judgment, and prejudice quietly lurk.
So, we pray again: Lord, make us a people of love.
This week in Advent, we light the candle of love. Its gentle flame reminds us that love is not an abstract idea—it is the very heart of God. Scripture tells us plainly:
“God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.” (1 John 4:16, NLT)
Love did not remain distant or theoretical. Love came to us. Love took on flesh. Love entered our broken world in the person of Jesus.
“For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16, NLT)
Jesus came in love and for love—to redeem us from sin, to restore what has been shattered, and to reconcile us back to God. Even when we were far from Him, God moved toward us in mercy:
“But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” (Romans 5:8, NLT)
This is the love we celebrate during Advent. And it is this love that reshapes us, transforming our hearts, so we can love as God loves.
“We love each other because he loved us first.” (1 John 4:19, NLT)
Lord, help us to receive Your love—not striving for it, not earning it, but resting in it. Help us to remain in Your love when fear, anger, or grief threaten to harden our hearts. And help us to extend Your love to others—especially when it is costly, inconvenient, or uncomfortable.
May the world know who You are through Your people. As Your Word declares:
“The LORD is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.” (Exodus 34:6, NLT)
Lord, in this Advent season, form us into a people who love as You love—deeply, humbly, and sacrificially.
Thank You for loving us first.
Thank You for sending us, Jesus.
Thank You for making us a people of love who reflect you. Amen.
Merry Christmas, With much love, Ryan