If we really think about it, Christmas is all about love. When God created the world, everything was perfect—until Adam and Eve disobeyed and humankind started on its downward spiral into hatred, jealousy, rebellion, and suffering. But separation from him wasn’t what God wanted for his people. To bring us back to him, He offered us the very first Christmas gift: Jesus Christ.The gift of Jesus showed us the depths of God’s love for us, and Jesus’ life here on Earth demonstrated how we can fully love others. True love isn’t always easy. It’s about serving those who we despise and making our own wants less important than others’ needs. And, quite honestly, it goes against just about everything modern society tries to tell us. We need to forget society’s lies that Christmas is about showering people with expensive gifts and amassing as much material goods for ourselves as possible.
Instead, let’s keep love as the center of our celebration this year. God gave us the gift of Jesus Christ a little over two thousand years ago, and before his death, Jesus instructed, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:34–35 ESV). May all our words and actions be reflections of God’s perfect, unconditional love.
Father, we praise you and thank you for your incredible love for us. We ask you to be even more present in each of our lives this Christmas season and to show us how to love others as you love them. May we continue to remember the true reason why we celebrate, and may the joy and love of Christ be so visible in our lives that it leads others to life—and love—in you. Amen.
[This post was written a few years ago for use during our church’s Advent wreath lighting, to accompany the Advent Conspiracy sermon series. More information on the Advent Conspiracy can be found HERE.]
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