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Many holidays include a love theme. When you hear the word love, your mind probably goes to Valentine's Day. This is a common and understandable association, but I think it is based on a misunderstanding of, to use the cliche, The true meaning of Christmas.
Charlie Brown was right: Christmas has become commercial in many ways. No matter where we go, we're inundated with messages about what to buy, where to shop, and how to spend money during the holidays. Unfortunately, it seems that Christmas has become just an excuse to shop.
While there is tremendous value in gift giving, the superficial and commercial focus ignores the central message of Christmas. The letter that started the gift-giving tradition in the first place.
It's time to reclaim the real reason we celebrate Christmas. It's time to remember that Christmas is first and foremost about love.
John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” This is the most quoted and most famous verse in the Bible. But many of us fail to realize the amazing impact these words have on the Christmas season.
That's why I want to draw your attention to a little word that's often overlooked in this most famous verse: “that.” This word says a lot about God and the nature of love. God loved the world, and He loved each one of us very much Which. This love worked powerfully to restore what was broken, bridging the gap between fallen humanity and a loving and holy God.
Just as God worked to restore us from the great sin that separated us from Him, we as Christians are called to act in a way that restores biblical justice to a broken world. (Istock)
He never stopped feeling loved. This love prompted him to take radical action. She forced him to surrender His beloved son is EmmanuelGod is with us. He paid Christmas. That's the thing about love. If love is real, it always prompts action. Just as God worked to restore us from the great sin that separated us from Him, we as Christians are called to act in a way that restores biblical justice to a broken world.
That's why we give gifts every Christmas. It's a tangible way to show those closest to us that we love them.
The Christmas story makes this clear: love transcends divisions, overcomes obstacles, and makes a difference.
But if love stops with those closest to us, we are not truly living out God's love. Notice the theme of God's love in John 3:16. It is a world—a world that has not loved God in return, a world that has done and is doing everything possible to live apart from God.
And yet I love God.
You see, God's love is intertwined with biblical justice. Love extends to everyone, even those we disagree with and don't particularly like. The Christmas story makes it clear: love transcends divisions, overcomes obstacles, and makes a difference. It effectively addresses wrongs, protects the vulnerable, and builds the foundation for reconciliation.
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Each of us is called to this kind of love this Christmas season. And there's really no better time to put that into action, because despite the frenetic shopping and consumer messaging, the holiday season is full of opportunities to show love to others.
So, this year, look for opportunities to get involved in service projects that make a difference in the lives of people in your community. Instead of spending more money on gifts for family and friends, find creative ways to bless those who can't afford gifts this year. Get a group together and go sing at a local nursing home.
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But go make a difference. Go and live this love that gave us the reason to celebrate. This is what makes Christmas season Very special. I think it gives us that magical time of year and wonder that we felt as children.
It's not just about gifts, lights and time spent with your loved ones, although those things are very good. They are also acts of love and sacrifice. The small moments when we have the opportunity to truly be the hands and feet of Jesus to those around us by exercising love through our actions.
