Love

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.    John 3:16

This special verse was, and probably still is, the first verse we learned in our Sunday Schools and churches.  It is loved because it is inclusive, sacrificial, and a gift to the whole world.  In this season of giving, there is no better gift we can receive than the gift of love.

My Mama and Daddy always loved to give their grandchildren special gifts at Christmas, and for some reason, they always liked to wrap them in huge boxes.  The gifts inside the boxes were nice and appreciated, but the biggest thrill for the kids was playing with the boxes!  The kids looked beyond the gift inside and just looked at the package. Love doesn’t need to come in the biggest packages to be appreciated.

No matter how large or small the gift, nothing can compare to the love of God sent down in the form of a little baby.  His love isn’t based on looks, personality, wealth or even moral goodness.  It’s offered to us without any preconditions, and His love keeps no record of wrongs.  God’s love guarantees His acceptance when all others have rejected us, offers His forgiveness when others have judged us, and gives His mercy when others have condemned us.

Jesus came as a baby to tell us that nothing we can do will make God love us more, and we can do nothing to make Him love us less.  His love is constantly at work to direct us toward making wise decisions, to protect us when we make poor ones, and to correct us when we make bad ones.  The world didn’t give us this love, Jesus did, and so the world can never take it away.

God’s gift to all of us this Christmas is eternal life.  Our job this Christmas is to accept His gift of love and use it to believe and live.  That is the best news of the season!

The verse of When I Survey the Wondrous Cross says it best:                               Love so amazing, so divine, demands your soul, your life, your all.

When we open our gifts this year, remember all the love behind the most special gift – Jesus and His love.

Merry Christmas!