Christianity is not merely a religion—it is a relationship with the living God. And whenever we truly encounter Him, the result is always transformation. We are all sinners in need of God’s grace, yet the good news is this: God loves each one of us deeply and personally.

God is love. And Christmas is truly about love—because Christmas is about Christ. It is the celebration of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who came into the world over two thousand years ago to rescue humanity from sin and restore our relationship with the Father.

So powerful was His coming that history itself was divided by it:
BC – Before Christ
AD – Anno Domini, “the year of our Lord.”

Every calendar silently declares that Jesus truly lived, truly came, and truly changed the world.

Yet there are dangers we must guard against during the Christmas season. One danger is commercialization—when Santa Claus, shopping, and material things take center stage, and Jesus is pushed into the background. Another danger is trivialization—when the story of Christ’s coming becomes so familiar that it no longer stirs our hearts, challenges our lives, or transforms our priorities.

This Christmas, let us return to the heart of the season. Let us move beyond decorations and traditions and come back to devotion. Do not just give gifts under the tree—give Jesus the greatest gift of all: your heart.

When Christ reigns in your heart, Christmas becomes more than a holiday—it becomes a holy encounter with the Savior who came to give us life, hope, forgiveness, and eternal joy

Prayer of Surrender and Renewal

Heavenly Father,

We come before You with grateful hearts, acknowledging that Christianity is not merely a religion, but a living relationship with You. Thank You for loving us deeply and personally, even when we fall short of Your glory. We confess that we are sinners in need of Your grace, and we praise You for the mercy You have freely given through Jesus Christ.

Thank You for sending Your Son into the world—Emmanuel, God with us—to rescue us from sin and restore our relationship with You. As the Gospel declares, You are love, and through Jesus, You have shown us the fullness of that love.

Lord, guard our hearts this Christmas. Keep us from the dangers of commercialization and distraction. Do not allow the noise of this season to drown out the holy wonder of Christ’s coming. Protect us from taking Your gift for granted. Restore in us a reverent awe for the miracle of the manger, the power of the cross, and the hope of the empty tomb.

Teach us to move beyond traditions and decorations and return to true devotion. We choose today to give You the greatest gift of all—our hearts. Reign in us, rule over us, and transform us by Your Spirit.

May our lives reflect the joy, peace, love, and hope that Jesus brings. Let Christmas become more than a celebration—let it be a holy encounter with You that changes us forever.

We offer You our worship, our gratitude, and our lives.

In the precious name of Jesus we pray,

Amen.

JOHN 20:31 but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.

The primary purpose of the Gospel of John is clear: it was written so that we may believe. Not merely to inform us, but to transform us. John wants us to know with certainty that Jesus is the Christ—the promised Messiah—and that He is the very Son of God. This belief is not just intellectual agreement; it is a wholehearted trust that changes the direction of our lives. And when we truly believe in Him, we receive what only He can give—life in His name.

This “life” is more than physical existence. It is spiritual life—new life, abundant life, and eternal life. It is forgiveness for our sins, peace for our troubled hearts, purpose for our daily living, and hope that goes beyond this world.

Jesus did not come merely to make bad people good—He came to make dead hearts alive. Through faith in Him, we are restored to God, renewed by His Spirit, and assured of an eternal future with Him.

JOHN 21:15 So when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My lambs.” 16 He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Shepherd My sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Tend My sheep.

In this passage, Jesus lovingly restores Peter after his painful failure of denying Him three times. Instead of rebuking Peter, Jesus asks him three times, “Do you love Me?”—giving Peter the opportunity to reaffirm his love for every denial he had made. This shows that Jesus is not only concerned with Peter’s past mistakes, but more importantly with the condition of his heart. Each time Peter declares his love, Jesus responds by entrusting him with a mission: “Tend My lambs” and “Shepherd My sheep.” This reveals that genuine love for Christ must naturally result in caring for His people. Jesus teaches that true discipleship is not proven merely by words or emotions, but by faithful service, responsibility, and obedience. Through this encounter, Peter is not only forgiven but restored and recommissioned, demonstrating that failure does not disqualify a believer when there is sincere repentance and love for Christ.

1 JOHN 4:19 We love, because He first loved us.

Our love for Jesus is not the starting point—His love for us is. Before we ever reached out to Him, He already reached down to us. Before we chose Him, He had already chosen to love us.

This Christmas, don’t just celebrate Christ—honor Him. Give Jesus your greatest gift: your love, your devotion, and your life. To truly love Jesus, we must first understand how deeply He loves us. The secret of loving Him is not found in trying harder to prove our love, but in resting in the truth of His love for us. The more we grasp the depth of His grace, forgiveness, and faithfulness in our lives, the more naturally our hearts will respond with love, worship, and obedience. When His love fills us, our love for Him will overflow—and Christmas becomes not just a celebration, but a personal response to the Savior who first loved us.

JOHN 21

1 After these things (resurrection) Jesus manifested Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias (Galilee), and He manifested Himself in this way. 2 Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together. 3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will also come with you.” They went out and got into the boat; and that night they caught nothing.

After the resurrection—the disciples were alive in faith, yet still uncertain in direction. These are not new followers but the inner circle of Jesus: Peter, Thomas, Nathanael, James, John, and two others who had walked closely with Him. Although they know Jesus has risen, they are in a season of emotional and spiritual in-between—saved, yet unsure of what life now looks like. When Peter says, “I am going fishing,” he is not merely suggesting an activity; he is retreating to the life he lived before Jesus called him, a sign that his sense of identity and calling has been shaken by failure, fear, and unresolved questions about the future. The others follow him, showing how deeply his uncertainty influences the group. Their empty nets that night are deeply symbolic: these were professional fishermen, yet God allows their familiar skills to produce nothing, gently teaching them that they can no longer find fulfillment or provision in the old life they have been called out of. This moment is not punishment but grace—God closing the door to their past so their hearts will be ready for the new commission Jesus is about to give them. It prepares the way for Christ’s tender restoration, showing that resurrection is not only about forgiveness, but about redefining purpose and calling.

Miracle No. 1: Professional fishermen, they caught nothing.

4 But when the day was now breaking, Jesus stood on the beach; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 So Jesus *said to them, “Children, you do not have any fish, do you?” They answered Him, “No.” 6 And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right-hand side of the boat and you will find a catch.” So they cast, and then they were not able to haul it in because of the great number of fish.

As day began to break, Jesus quietly stood on the shore, watching His tired disciples who had labored all night and caught nothing. They did not recognize Him at first, yet His first words already revealed His heart—not condemnation, but gentle concern: “Children, you do not have any fish, do you?” Their honest answer, “No,” is the confession of exhausted men who have reached the end of their own strength. Peter’s heart, in particular, was heavy. His denial of Jesus was not a small failure—it was a deep, personal betrayal, made even more painful because he was the leader among them. He likely carried shame, regret, and a sense of unworthiness that quietly pushed him back to his old life. The long, tiring labor was not cruelty but mercy—designed to bring them to the end of themselves so they could once again experience that life, fruitfulness, and calling only flow from obedience to Christ. When Jesus finally tells them to cast the net on the right side, the sudden, overwhelming catch shows that restoration begins not with human effort, but with renewed trust in His word.

Miracle No. 2: They caught great number of fish.

7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord.” So when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put his outer garment on (for he was stripped for work), and threw himself into the sea. 8 But the other disciples came in the little boat, for they were not far from the land, but about one hundred yards away, dragging the net full of fish. 9 So when they got out on the land, they saw a charcoal fire already laid and fish placed on it, and bread. 10 Jesus *said to them, “Bring some of the fish which you have now caught.”

When the beloved disciple suddenly recognized what their hearts had not yet dared to hope and said, “It is the Lord,” everything shifted in an instant. Peter did not hesitate. Still carrying the weight of his denial and shame, he did not wait for the boat to reach the shore—he threw himself into the sea and rushed toward Jesus, revealing a heart that, though broken, still burned with love and longing for restoration. What awaited them on the shore is one of the most tender pictures of grace in all of Scripture: Jesus had already prepared a charcoal fire, fish, and bread. He was not coming to interrogate them, but to feed them—to welcome them back into fellowship before any conversation about failure would even begin. The fire is especially meaningful, because Peter had denied Jesus around a charcoal fire; now Jesus meets him at another charcoal fire, not to reopen wounds, but to heal them. It was never about whether the net was cast on the left or the right side—it was about learning to listen, to recognize Jesus, and to trust His word again. In this moment, Jesus shows that failure is not the end, but the beginning of deeper humility, clearer hearing, and truer transformation. When the disciples listened and obeyed, everything changed—not just their nets, but their hearts.

Miracle No. 3: There was breakfast bouquet waiting for them.

11 Simon Peter went up and drew the net to land, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples ventured to question Him, “Who are You?” knowing that it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and the fish likewise.

Peter then hauled the heavy net to shore, filled with one hundred and fifty-three large fish, and yet the net was not torn—a quiet picture of abundance held together by grace. Jesus did not need any of those fish, for He already had a fire burning and food prepared, yet He invited them to bring what they had caught. In doing so, He showed that while He is fully sufficient in Himself, He lovingly allows His disciples to share in His work and in His joy. What mattered was not the size of their catch, but the simple obedience and willingness to offer what they had to Him. Then Jesus said, “Come and have breakfast,” inviting weary, humbled men into fellowship rather than into interrogation. The risen Lord who conquered death did not demand service—He gave it. He took the bread and the fish and served them with His own hands, revealing a love that restores before it instructs and welcomes before it corrects. In this quiet morning meal, Jesus showed that His kingdom is built not on performance, but on grace, humility, and loving communion with Him.

15 So when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He *said to him, “Tend My lambs.” 16 He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Shepherd My sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus *said to him, “Tend My sheep.

After breakfast, Jesus focused on Peter, asking three times, “Do you love Me?” Each question was not meant to shame him, but to restore him fully after his threefold denial. In Peter’s honest replies—“Yes, Lord; You know that I love You”—we see a heart being lifted from guilt and shame into renewed purpose. Jesus’ response each time—“Tend My lambs” and “Shepherd My sheep”—was a commission, showing that forgiveness is inseparable from calling. God does not measure our love by perfection or past failure; He meets us in our weakness and redeems it. Unlike human love, which is often conditional, Christ’s love accepts us as we are, where we are, and empowers us to live out His mission. This tender exchange reveals that restoration is not just about being forgiven—it is about being entrusted again, fully, to the work of God’s kingdom.

MARK 12:30 and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’

Jesus showed that love for Him is comparative. He is asking us what truly hold first place in our heart. True love for Christ means placing Him above our possessions, our ambitions, our comfort, and even our closest relationships. It means He comes first in our decisions, priorities, and daily living. When Jesus is first in our hearts, everything else finds its proper place—and our love becomes not just spoken, but proven by the way we live.

1 JOHN 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments…

Jesus sets the rule plainly: If you love Him, you will obey Him. Obedience is not a burden when love is real; it becomes a joyful response to the One who first loved us. When we truly love Jesus, we desire to follow His ways, honor His Word, and align our lives with His will. Our obedience becomes the visible expression of an invisible love, showing that Christ is not only our Savior—but also our Lord.

18 Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to gird yourself and walk wherever you wished; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will gird you, and bring you where you do not wish to go.” 19 Now this He said, signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He *said to him, “Follow Me!”

This verse, Jesus reveals to Peter that following Him will one day cost him everything—even his life. Yet after speaking of suffering and sacrifice, Jesus gives only one simple command: “Follow Me.” This shows us that love for Christ is not merely about feelings or good intentions; it is a lifelong commitment of surrender and obedience, even when the path is difficult.

The rule of love when it comes to Jesus is simple—follow Him. When you truly know Jesus, you will naturally fall in love with Him. And when you love Him, obedience flows naturally. But when obedience is separated from love, it becomes legalism—heavy, forced, and joyless. Without love, Christianity feels like a burden. With love, obedience becomes a joy, because we are no longer trying to earn His favor—we are responding to the One who already loves us.

1 PETER 5:1 Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, 2 shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; 3 nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock. 4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

Apostle Peter exhorts the elders—also known as pastors—to shepherd God’s flock with the same heart as Christ. Shepherding is not to be done under compulsion, for selfish gain, or with a controlling spirit, but willingly, eagerly, and with humility. This passage reveals that leadership in the church is not about authority—it is about responsibility and love.

If you truly love Jesus, you are called to be a shepherd in some measure. And the greater your love for Him, the greater the responsibility He entrusts to you. The more sheep under your care, the greater the weight of responsibility—but also the greater the privilege of serving the Lord by tending His flock. To be a good shepherd, you must first be an example, because leadership is not shaped merely by words but by a life that others can follow. At the heart of shepherding is love—genuine love for people, just as Jesus loves His sheep. Without love, shepherding becomes a duty; with love, it becomes a calling. And for those who faithfully shepherd God’s people, Peter assures us that there is a crown reserved—an unfading crown of glory from the Chief Shepherd Himself.

20 Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them; the one who also had leaned back on His bosom at the supper and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?” 21 So Peter seeing him said to Jesus, “Lord, and what about this man?” 22 Jesus *said to him, “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow Me!”

After Jesus had just called Peter to follow Him, Peter turned and began looking at another disciple and asked, “Lord, what about this man?” Jesus gently but firmly redirected him, saying, “What is that to you? You follow Me.” With these words, Jesus was teaching Peter—and us—that discipleship is personal. Our walk with Christ is not meant to be measured by comparison with others, but by faithful obedience to Him. Many believers stumble because their eyes shift from Jesus to people. When we focus on others, we can become distracted, disappointed, discouraged, and even tempted to stop following the Lord. But true discipleship is about keeping our eyes fixed on Christ alone.

In life, there are many things we may not enjoy doing, yet we choose to do them—not because we are forced to, but because we love Jesus. And there are also things we would like to do, yet we willingly deny ourselves for the same reason. Love for Jesus becomes our motivation, our strength, and our joy. It is love that keeps us faithful when following Him is difficult, and it is love that makes obedience a delight rather than a burden.

A Prayer of Love, Surrender, and Faithful Following

Heavenly Father,

We come before You in humility and gratitude, thanking You for loving us first. Thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus Christ, to rescue us, restore us, and give us life in His name. We acknowledge that Christianity is not merely a religion, but a living relationship with You—a relationship built on grace, love, and truth.

Lord Jesus, You ask us the same question You asked Peter: “Do you love Me?” Today we answer from our hearts—Yes, Lord, You know that we love You. Teach us to love You with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. Help us to place You above everything else in our lives.

Guard us from distractions, comparisons, and discouragement. Keep our eyes fixed on You alone. Teach us to follow You faithfully, even when the path is difficult, even when obedience requires sacrifice. May our love for You make obedience our joy, not our burden.

Make us shepherds after Your own heart—men and women who love Your people, lead by example, serve willingly, and care deeply for Your flock. Let our lives reflect Your compassion, humility, and truth.

This Christmas and every day, we give You the greatest gift—our hearts, our lives, and our devotion. Reign in us, transform us, and use us for Your glory.

We choose to follow You, Lord—today and always.

In the mighty name of Jesus we pray,

Amen.

The content of this article is adapted from the source below:

Do You Love Me More Than These?