WEBVTT 00:04.790 --> 00:07.313 [SPEAKER_00]: What a gift we have in the Christmas season. 00:08.114 --> 00:15.985 [SPEAKER_00]: God Himself took on flesh and dwelt among us that we might find eternal relationship in Him. 00:17.086 --> 00:25.617 [SPEAKER_00]: His coming serves as a continual reminder of His grace and pursuit of us who are lost without Him. 00:26.137 --> 00:36.104 [SPEAKER_00]: As we look to Jesus this week to celebrate who he is and what he's done, may you find life giving hope and foundational joy. 00:36.144 --> 00:39.994 [SPEAKER_00]: Welcome to the first 15 podcast. 00:59.887 --> 01:28.830 [SPEAKER_00]: Our Scripture for today comes from John chapter 1 verse 29, Scripture says, 01:32.050 --> 01:37.700 [SPEAKER_00]: it's impossible to separate the birth of Christ from the purpose of His coming. 01:39.143 --> 01:52.607 [SPEAKER_00]: John 316 tells us, for God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. 01:54.562 --> 02:02.871 [SPEAKER_00]: As we take time today, to look at the heart of a God who would sacrifice his own life that we might find life through him. 02:03.972 --> 02:12.340 [SPEAKER_00]: Let's open our hearts to receive a fresh encounter with his real, available love. 02:12.360 --> 02:20.569 [SPEAKER_00]: Jesus coming was entirely a love-motivated decision for God so loved the world. 02:21.832 --> 02:33.105 [SPEAKER_00]: So great is the depth of his love for his wayward crown of creation that he became man himself to live the life none of us ever could. 02:34.667 --> 02:44.778 [SPEAKER_00]: So vast is his affection for us that he took the pain and shame we were due and offered up his life as a ransom for ours. 02:46.200 --> 02:51.366 [SPEAKER_00]: Truly, there is no greater love 02:53.320 --> 02:58.149 [SPEAKER_00]: Have you stopped recently to acknowledge how intentionally God pursues you? 02:59.551 --> 03:04.961 [SPEAKER_00]: Have you stopped to marvel at the lengths to which He will go simply to have your heart? 03:06.824 --> 03:14.097 [SPEAKER_00]: In the hustle and bustle of this Christmas season, may we not look past the greatest gift we have? 03:15.292 --> 03:21.899 [SPEAKER_00]: May we not skip over the reality of God's love for us to get to the next thing on our calendar. 03:23.141 --> 03:33.452 [SPEAKER_00]: Instead, may we take time every day to let sink in the simple truth that God became man entirely for our sects. 03:34.954 --> 03:43.003 [SPEAKER_00]: God Himself who has no beginning, no limit, no weakness, and deserves no pain. 03:43.473 --> 03:50.908 [SPEAKER_00]: took on flesh in pursuit of a deeper, richer, and entirely restored relationship with you and me. 03:52.752 --> 03:57.502 [SPEAKER_00]: The love of Jesus we celebrate at Christmas time is a sacrificial love. 03:58.945 --> 04:02.292 [SPEAKER_00]: He didn't just give himself sacrificially on the cross. 04:03.183 --> 04:07.508 [SPEAKER_00]: Every day of his life was another day given up for our sex. 04:08.709 --> 04:20.823 [SPEAKER_00]: Every tear, pain of hunger, and wound he suffered throughout his life, he experienced not because he had to, but because he chose to, out of love for us. 04:22.925 --> 04:27.891 [SPEAKER_00]: Imagine leaving the perfection of heaven to come to earth. 04:29.137 --> 04:38.489 [SPEAKER_00]: Imagine leaving unhindered face-to-face connection with the Heavenly Father, and becoming an infant. 04:38.509 --> 04:49.002 [SPEAKER_00]: Imagine allowing a mother and father to take care of you when you are God Himself, whose very existence has never known a beginning. 04:50.720 --> 05:00.196 [SPEAKER_00]: In this season of celebration, may we take time to remember the loving, life-giving sacrifice of the King we worship. 05:01.639 --> 05:04.744 [SPEAKER_00]: May we center our hearts and lives around Him. 05:05.686 --> 05:09.893 [SPEAKER_00]: May we give Him the adoration and praise He deserves. 05:11.240 --> 05:23.316 [SPEAKER_00]: and may this Christmas season change our lives forever as we respond to the continual pursuit of our loving God by offering Him our hearts in return. 05:25.038 --> 05:30.565 [SPEAKER_00]: Open your heart to your king as you enter guided prayer. 05:52.583 --> 06:01.855 [SPEAKER_00]: As we begin, take a moment to reflect on the love of God reflected in the coming of Christ. 06:03.697 --> 06:18.355 [SPEAKER_00]: John 316 says, for God so loved the world that he gave his only son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 06:59.273 --> 06:59.835 [SPEAKER_00]: and next. 07:01.178 --> 07:06.112 [SPEAKER_00]: Ask God to reveal all the ways in which he has been pursuing you lately. 07:06.133 --> 07:13.333 [SPEAKER_00]: Allow the coming of Jesus to build your faith that God pursues you still. 07:48.532 --> 08:09.332 [SPEAKER_00]: And last, take time to respond to God's pursuit by offering Him your heart, crown Him King of your life that all you are and have might be His. 08:11.034 --> 08:15.298 [SPEAKER_00]: Commit to living today in response to God's great love for you. 08:16.983 --> 08:22.162 [SPEAKER_00]: Psalm 132 verse 7 says, Let us go to His dwelling place. 08:23.085 --> 08:25.474 [SPEAKER_00]: Let us worship at His footstool. 09:09.869 --> 09:25.793 [SPEAKER_00]: in Philippians 3 verse 12, Paul writes, not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 09:28.277 --> 09:31.882 [SPEAKER_00]: As a believer, Christ has made you his own. 09:33.264 --> 09:37.210 [SPEAKER_00]: You were bought with the price only Jesus could pay. 09:38.135 --> 09:47.352 [SPEAKER_00]: May this season be marked by the love and joy that can only come from true communion with Jesus, our sacrificial king. 10:04.358 --> 10:07.704 [SPEAKER_00]: Thank you so much for listening to today's podcast. 10:07.724 --> 10:12.614 [SPEAKER_00]: The first in our week-long series, focusing on Jesus as our King. 10:13.776 --> 10:23.835 [SPEAKER_00]: As we're nearing the middle of this Advent season, my hope is that we can create space to really center our hearts around Emmanuel, God with us. 10:23.815 --> 10:34.810 [SPEAKER_00]: And my hope is that this space we're creating for the presence of God together makes this season richer and more full of the joy and peace that can only be found in God. 10:35.971 --> 10:41.118 [SPEAKER_00]: If you haven't already, make sure to subscribe to the podcast so you won't miss an episode. 10:41.999 --> 10:46.465 [SPEAKER_00]: Have a wonderful rest of your day and may God bless you as you see him.