John 3:16-19
16 “For God so loved the world,[a] that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.
Love is a word that is carelessly tossed about in our society. I love that new song, or I love that restaurant, or I love that new coat. We tend to cheapen the word by overusing it for everything. Yet, love, in its true form, is something we all seek after and desire. It is an emotion that God created us to need in our lives. Love is needed in our lives at our very core because God is love. While many tend to look everywhere but Jesus for the love, they know they need, the only love that can fill that desire, that void, is the love of Jesus Christ.
In Ephesians 5:25 Paul writes for husbands to love their wives as Christ loved the church. In 1 Corinthians 13 Paul emphasizes the necessity of love in the life of the Christian. Paul writes that we can do all manner of good works, spiritual practices, and wherever we feel led but if we do not have love doing so then whatever we do is worthless. As followers of Christ, we are called to show the love of Christ to everyone we come in contact with. What is the love of Christ though?
Jesus taught that greater love has no man than that he gives up his life for his friend. (John 15:13) In Ephesians Paul continues the call for husbands to love their wives as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her. (Ephesians 5:25) The love of Christ is not the shallow love that our society knows, it is a soul level love. It is a love that cannot come from anything of ourselves but can only come from Christ working in us. It is a love that prays for our enemies and those that persecute us. (Matthew 5:44) It is the love that John wrote in chapter 3 of his gospel, “For God so loved the world, that he gave His only Son…” (John 3:16) It is a love that sacrifices all, gives all, endures all, and in doing so it never fails. That love came down for us and now walks with us in everything we do and everywhere we go. Let us show that love to those around us always!
Father let the love of Christ always shine in our lives to everyone around us. Especially at this time when we celebrate Your Son coming to earth, let us not get caught in the trap of commercialism and desires that are not from you, but Lord let us demonstrate the love and grace you have shown and given us to every person we come in contact with. Let the words of our mouths and the actions from our heart be filled with your grace and mercy. We thank you Father that Your love for us is so incredible and that it is never ending. Walk with us and let our lives be lived entirely in Your love and for Your purpose. In Jesus Name
“Love came down at Christmas,
Love all lovely, love divine;
Love was born at Christmas,
Star and angels gave the sign.
Worship we the Godhead,
Love incarnate, love divine;
Worship we our Jesus:
But wherewith for sacred sign?
Love shall be our token,
Love shall be yours and love be mine,
Love to God and to all men,
Love for plea and gift and sign.”
Poem by Christina Georgina Rossetti
Sources:
- https://www.poemhunter.com/poem/love-came-down-at-christmas/
- https://www.crosswalk.com/special-coverage/christmas-and-advent/what-are-advent-readings.html
- Reformation Study Bible ESV
