Today is 1 December, and as we step into the final message of our Growing into Legacy series, we also enter the global Church’s season of Advent. While Advent is often associated with more traditional Christian streams, its meaning speaks powerfully to every Spirit-filled believer: it reminds us to prepare our hearts, to reflect on the coming of Jesus, and to centre our lives again on the love that came down from heaven for us.
And that ties directly into Sunday’s message — growing in God’s love. Over the past weeks we have looked at growing in anointing, growing in vision, and growing in faith. But Scripture reminds us that none of these can reach their full potential without love at the centre.
Paul says in 1 Corinthians 13:1–3, that we can speak in tongues, prophesy, understand mysteries, and have mountain-moving faith, but without love, we gain nothing. Love is not an optional extra. It is the defining mark of a believer who is building a true spiritual legacy.
Jesus also warns in Matthew 24:12–14 that in the last days “the love of many will grow cold.” We can see that happening around us. People are becoming more numb, more self-focused, more easily offended, more disconnected. But the people of God are called to burn with a different kind of love — agape love — the love that reflects the heart of Christ.
Advent Reminds Us Why Love Matters
This time of year is full of lights, decorations, carols, family gatherings, and the rush of December. But Advent calls us to slow down and remember the miracle that changed everything: God sent His Son because He loved us.
Romans 5:5–8 tells us that the Holy Spirit fills our hearts with God’s love. Jesus didn’t come for perfect people — He came for a broken world in need of redemption. So as we begin this month, we are reminded that everything starts with the love God has shown us.
Growing in God’s love means allowing that love to shape us again. It means remembering who we were before Jesus, what He pulled us out of, and how His grace continues to carry us.
Love Is Evidence of Legacy
In Ephesians 1:15, Paul celebrates the Ephesian church for two things: their faith in Jesus, and their love for the saints. Those two traits together signal a healthy, mature, Spirit-led church.
John echoes the same truth in 1 John 5:1–4, saying that everyone who loves the Father will also love His children. Genuine spiritual growth is not measured just by gifts, miracles, or passion — but by how we love.
When Jesus looked at the crowds in Matthew 9:36–38, He didn’t see irritation or inconvenience. He saw people who were lost and hurting, and He was moved with compassion. That compassion is what compels us into the harvest. Jesus said the workers are few — not because the harvest is small, but because true love is rare.
Growing in God’s love is what transforms us into workers for His kingdom.
Forgiveness: The Fuel of Growing Love
In Luke 7:47–50, Jesus explains that the measure of our love is connected to our understanding of His forgiveness. “To whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.”
This doesn’t mean some people are better than others. It means that when we truly grasp the depth of God’s mercy in our own lives, love becomes our natural response.
Forgiveness is more than a church doctrine — it’s a spiritual experience that reshapes our heart. The more we recognise God’s grace toward us, the more that grace flows through us to others.
If you want to grow in God’s love, begin by remembering how much you’ve been forgiven.
Practical Ways to Grow in God’s Love This December
1. Take Time to Reflect
Set aside a moment during this Advent season to reflect on Jesus’ birth and what it means for your life. Let the Holy Spirit soften your heart again by reminding you of how deeply God loves you. For those wanting to revisit the meaning and practice of Communion during this month, you can find guidance here.
2. Practice Forgiveness Purposefully
Ask God to show you if there is someone you need to forgive or something you need to release. Forgiveness is not weakness; it’s the pathway to freedom. It opens your heart so God’s love can flow without obstruction.
3. Serve Others Intentionally
Love grows when it’s expressed. Find ways to serve — through kindness, generosity, compassion, or simply being present for someone who needs it. If you’re not yet connected to a community, joining a Small Group is a powerful way to practice love and build relationships: 👉G12 Prayer Cells.
If you or someone you know needs prayer, support, or connection, our team is here to walk with you: 👉 Call us today!
Your Legacy Is Found in Your Love
As we conclude this series, remember that a spiritual legacy is not measured by achievements, titles, or material things—it is measured by the love you show and the people you impact through the love God has placed in you.
The woman in Luke 7 left a legacy because she understood forgiveness. She didn’t have wealth or status, but she had a heart transformed by love. That is the kind of legacy that lasts. As Advent begins and as December unfolds, let this be a month where we choose to grow in God’s love — where we let love shape our decisions, our words, our relationships, and our worship.
May God’s love in you become the legacy you leave behind.
PRAYER
Father, we come before You on this first day of December with grateful hearts. Thank You for sending Jesus — the perfect gift of love — to rescue and redeem us. Today, as we reflect on Advent and the birth of our Saviour, we ask that You renew our hearts with Your love.
Holy Spirit, fill us again. Soften anything that has grown cold, heal what has been wounded, and revive our first love for You. Teach us to love like Jesus — with compassion, forgiveness, courage, and sincerity. Help us to build a legacy that reflects Your heart and touches every person around us.
Lord, let this be a December where Your love grows in us, flows through us, and draws others to You. We surrender our lives afresh and ask that everything we do this season brings honour to Your name.
In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.
