At Christmas, maybe more than any other time of year we seek to put Christ’s words into practice. We go crazy: racing around to buy gifts for our friends and family, wondering if you should tip the mailman, paper boy, or that person that leaves the take-out menu stuffed in the door handle!
For others the focus is on family traditions that take on a life of their own – staying up really late on Christmas Eve to decorate a tree for the kids, only to be woken up after 2 hours sleep by the very same kids!
There’s a reason that Jesus gave this command to love one another. Verse 35 of John 13 says “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” As special as our gifts or traditions are, they are merely expressions of the love we have for one another. And when the turkey grows cold, and the lights come down, Jesus wants us still to love one another as He loved us.
Tonight we are celebrating the night that Jesus joined us here on earth as a baby. But this was not the start of His love for us. He was with God in the beginning when the earth was formed. He loved us enough to leave His throne in Heaven in exchange for a manger in a stable.
Jesus, Son of God, became flesh and made his dwelling among us. (John 1:14) An expression of God’s love, in human form, reaching out to us with the offer of redemption. Stepping down from His throne in heaven might seem sacrifice enough for some, but He did not stop there.
After entering this world in the most humble, if not humiliating of circumstances, there was no parade or royal treatment. Instead His birth was announced to a small band of shepherds, themselves pretty low on the social scale.
Jesus lived a daily life of humility, grace and love. He walked the earth seeking out those who were lost or weary. And He died in our place, that we might live forever in glory.
This Christmas, show your love for others by sharing the good news of Christ’s birth with them. And every day remember:
God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. John 4:16
For others the focus is on family traditions that take on a life of their own – staying up really late on Christmas Eve to decorate a tree for the kids, only to be woken up after 2 hours sleep by the very same kids!
There’s a reason that Jesus gave this command to love one another. Verse 35 of John 13 says “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” As special as our gifts or traditions are, they are merely expressions of the love we have for one another. And when the turkey grows cold, and the lights come down, Jesus wants us still to love one another as He loved us.
Tonight we are celebrating the night that Jesus joined us here on earth as a baby. But this was not the start of His love for us. He was with God in the beginning when the earth was formed. He loved us enough to leave His throne in Heaven in exchange for a manger in a stable.
Jesus, Son of God, became flesh and made his dwelling among us. (John 1:14) An expression of God’s love, in human form, reaching out to us with the offer of redemption. Stepping down from His throne in heaven might seem sacrifice enough for some, but He did not stop there.
After entering this world in the most humble, if not humiliating of circumstances, there was no parade or royal treatment. Instead His birth was announced to a small band of shepherds, themselves pretty low on the social scale.
Jesus lived a daily life of humility, grace and love. He walked the earth seeking out those who were lost or weary. And He died in our place, that we might live forever in glory.
This Christmas, show your love for others by sharing the good news of Christ’s birth with them. And every day remember:
God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. John 4:16
No comments:
Post a Comment