Welcome to another day the Lord has made that we should rejoice and be glad in. (Psalms 118:24)

This last Christmas takeway writing is meant to inspire additional actions after Jesus is birthed in our lives.

Jesus said in today’s scripture, John 15:5, 8 (NLT)…
[5] “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.
[8] When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.

Consider…
The final Christmas take away from the Holy Spirit is to share what we’ve been given.

Now when I say that most people assume that means share the Gospel which is the good news of Salvation. While we should indeed share that, it’s not the Holy Spirit’s sharing emphasis today.

For example, in today’s scripture Jesus tells us to bear much fruit that He produces in us.

That fruit is described in Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT)…But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives:

• love,
• joy,
• peace,
• patience,
• kindness,
• goodness,
• faithfulness,
• gentleness,
• and self-control.

…There is no law against these things!

Bearing is sharing, accordingly the fruit listed by Paul has been produced by God to be shared with others. Which by the way will prove we’re Christ’s disciples and glorify our Father.

More glorifying sharing mandated by Jesus in John 15 (NLT), we read in verses 9-10, 12…
[9] “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. [10] When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love.
[12] This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you.

Jesus tells us plainly, love others as He loved us.

The same Beloved disciple who shared Jesus’ words here, further clarified in 1 John 3:16-18 (NLT)…
[16] We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. [17] If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person? [18] Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.

AOL is an email service that shares messages from senders, but the Holy Spirit redeemed it as an acronym today that is Action Oriented Love sent by God through His children.

The most important commandments per Jesus are shared in Matthew 22:37-40 (NLT)…
[37] Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ [38] This is the first and greatest commandment. [39] A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ [40] The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”

That means Loving is what’s most important to God, which makes sense because 1 John 4:8 (NLT) declares…But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

For further emphasis John continues in 1 John 4:10-11 (NLT)…
[10] This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. [11] Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other.

As well as stipulating in 1 John 4:15-17 (NLT)…
[15] All who declare that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God. [16] We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. [17] And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world.

You see God wants us to in the words of Paul in Ephesians 5:1-2 (NLT)…
[1] Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. [2] Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.

Contrary to lies otherwise, loving is mandatory, not optional in God’s children. And that’s because as 1 John 4:19 (NLT) says…We love each other because he loved us first.

God loved and loves us to love others.

Although I could easily stop with God’s love share, akin to ride shares that help get others to the same destination, the Holy Spirit has a couple additional items.

The Apostle Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 4:6-7 (NLT)…
[6] For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ. [7] We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.

God shined in His light in us to shine it through us.

Jesus said in Luke 11:36 (NLT)…If you are filled with light, with no dark corners, then your whole life will be radiant, as though a floodlight were filling you with light.”

Reading Jesus’ use of floodlight made me look up the difference between floodlight and spotlight…
floodlights cast a wide, broad beam (60°-120°+) for general area illumination (like yards or driveways), while spotlights project a narrow, focused beam (10°-60°) to highlight specific objects (like sculptures or architectural details).

The Holy Spirit then showed me that God wants us wants us to make Jesus visible to everyone around us, not spotlight those we think need Him.

That’s why I believe Jesus says Matthew 5:16 (NLT)…In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

The Light of the world says share the light that we’ve received to help others see His way out of darkness too.

Lastly, the Holy Spirit tied up sharing the gifts God gives to serve others. 1 Peter 4:10 (NLT) expressly says…God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.

I think that sums up God’s purpose for gifting is serving others well.

God’s giving didn’t start and stop at Christmas, which means our serving shouldn’t either.

Bottom line, God wants to share more like Jesus.

Today’s song is…
Less Like Me

Blessings 4HG (1 Corinthians 10:31)