source: www.youthwork-practice.com | 2000 Games, Devotions, Themes, Ideas and more for Youth Work
only for private using

True love

It happened over 2000 years ago, but we continue to celebrate Jesus‘ birth today!
What is so special about Jesus that his birth has been so important for so many generations?
What is the unique thing about Jesus?

The tale of the loving king

We will take a journey back in time to a kingdom. The king of this country had everything he could possibly need to be happy – lots of money, faithful staff, lots of land – but despite all of this, he was unhappy!

He was hopelessly in love! He, a rich member of royalty, had fallen in love with a poor woman. She was poor, uneducated and without any noble background! Why he loved her could not be understood or explained, but he loved her.

The king was unhappy because he did not know how to show this woman how much he loved her!? How could he bridge the gap between the two of them? His advisors recommended that he should simply propose marriage to her – he was a powerful man after all! However power, even unlimited power, cannot enforce love. He could force her to come to the palace; but he could not force her to grow love in her heart for him. He could perhaps secure her obedience with power, but the king did not want to subject any force upon her. He longed for the desire that she would freely love him with all of her heart! In view of the facts the advisors suggest to him that he should bestow his love and his heart on a woman of his standard and on a woman who is worthy. But the king cannot and does not want to!

The king’s advisors only see one option, to try and bridge the divide between the king and the poor woman. The king should shower her with valuable gifts and make her nobler.

The king considers this and says: “How will I ever know that she loves me and not the things that I have and give her? Would she be in a position to trust and to forget that I am king and she is a poor woman?“

The king only sees one possibility left to achieve his goal – namely the love of this woman. He leaves his throne, takes off his crown and removes his royal clothing. He pulls on some rags and moves into a squalid hut. The king doesn’t only take on the external guise of a farmer, but also the life and rigours of a farmer. He becomes as poor as the woman he loves so that she can be with him forever and love him of her own free will. That is the only possibility. I really do find this story impressive! I admit that it sounds like a fairytale but there is a love just like this!

No fairytale: Jesus loves you!

Jesus had left his throne, he give up his life at his father’s side to live here on earth as a mortal human! HE went through highs and lows just like us! He even died for us! Why Jesus!? So that we understand just how much he loves me and you!

(An entry from February 2006 by Damaris P. with the comments: Hello, I find your web site to be very helpful… I am attaching a devotion – I thought I would just send it in. Kind regards, Damaris P.)