Share Love, Share God

by Donovan Sabog on December 25, 2025

SCRIPTURE:

7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

1 John 4:7-12

 

OBSERVATION:

Merry Christmas! Jesus is born, and Emmanuel––God with us––has come! And today, 2000 years after the first Christmas, we have the privilege of sharing God with those around us. While sharing God with others can seem like a scary, intimidating task, in today’s reading from 1 John, we are reminded of a simple, yet overlooked way that we can easily share God with those who need Him most.

What is this way? Love. We share God by loving people. 

As John writes in verse 8, “God is love.” Thus, if you share love with people, you are sharing God with people. When you hug someone in love, they can feel God’s touch. When you speak life to someone in love, they can hear God’s voice. When you show up for someone in love, they can feel God’s presence.

APPLICATION:

Years ago when I was a student, I remember being in my first every Christmas pageant. I was so nervous to get on that stage, but I was also excited for my family to see me. Except, there was one problem. I wasn’t sure if my dad would make it. You see, my dad was the sound man for the University of Hawaii sports telecasts, and he worked every single weekend, so I wasn’t sure if he would come. However, when I stepped onto that stage and looked into the audience, I saw my dad, smiling ear to ear, looking back at me. My dad showed up for me at Christmas, and to me, it meant the world.

2000 years ago, God showed up for you. “This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him” (1 John 4:9). God showed up in the form of Jesus to show you that He loves you. And this Christmas, you get to show up for God by sharing Him with those who need Him. And it’s not as scary or intimidating as you think. All you have to do is to love them. You know how to do that. And how do I know? Because God showed you how. “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins” (1 John 4:10). We know how to love because God first loved us. 

My brothers and sisters, this Christmas and every day after that, “since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another” (1 John 4:11). Why? Because when we share love, we share God, for God is love. Let us flood this world with love––let us love boldly, relentlessly, and unashamedly––for when we do, we will flood this world with God.

PRAYER:

God,

You are love! You came, You died, and You rose again because of love, and today, I get to share You with others simply by sharing love with them. Empower me to love boldly, as You have loved me, and when I do, may You be made known to them in a real and tangible way so they choose to follow You. May I always remember that when I love others, I am sharing You with them, and may I never skimp on loving those You have placed around me to the fullest. Happy Birthday, Jesus! I love You. Thank You for loving me. 

In Your name I pray,

Amen

About the Author

Donovan Sabog

Pastor Donovan Sabog joined our staff in 2020 and was appointed as our Executive Pastor in 2025. He loves God, loves people, and is passionate about helping people discover their God-given potential, release their dreams, and become all God created them to be.

Donovan grew up at New Hope Oahu and has been a part of this church with his family since 2004. Starting from a young age, he served on our Worship, Youth Performing Arts Center, NHO Music, and Children’s Ark teams, and he led our Lighting Team through its transition from Farrington High School to our Ministry Center when he was a high school student at Punahou School. 

These experiences led him to Yale University, where he received B.A. degrees with distinction in Economics and History, and worked as Head Recruitment Coordinator and Senior Presenter for Yale Undergraduate Admissions. While at Yale, he performed in the Yale Spizzwinks and Yale Whiffenpoofs a cappella groups, traveling with these groups to 25 states and 35 countries across all six inhabited continents. Donovan also received his M.A. in Formational Leadership from Lancaster Bible College and Capital Seminary.

Prior to New Hope, Donovan was a management consultant in New York City and has held various internships in finance, investment, education, government, and strategic policy at various firms in Hawaii. 

When he's not at church, you’ll probably find him eating a plate lunch (Garlic Chicken or Tonkatsu…with white rice and mac salad, of course), on a plane headed to serve the global Church on mission, or loving on people God places in his path.

Donovan is grateful to serve God, serve you, and do church as a team here at NHO. And if there’s one thing Donovan hopes that you always remember, it’s that “YOU ARE LOVED!”

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” - Ephesians 3:20-21 NIV

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