LOVE – Countdown to Christmas: An Advent Devotional Series

We are only days away from Christmas day: the day that, for centuries, we have chosen to celebrate that God became human and made his dwelling among us.

If there is anything that we can say, simply, about God, it is that he is love. When Jesus met and spoke to a famous Jewish leader and teacher of scriptures, Jesus used these words that are at the center of our faith: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

If you ever doubt that God loves you, just look at his Son, Jesus. Look at Jesus the child born into the world as a baby at Christmas. Look at Jesus the man, teaching the people, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. Look at Jesus the Savior, suffering and dying on the cross for your sins to bring you to God. Look at Jesus the King, risen from the dead, ascended to heaven, coming back for you to take you to be with him that you also may be where he is forever.

The Christmas story is all about love, but the most important part of the story is God’s love for sinners. God so loved the world, he gave us his Son so that we would not perish but have eternal life.

This is a love that must not just marvel at or simply accept; it is a love that changes us so that we can love others as well. God has empowered us to be agents of change to bring about His kingdom of love. We cannot be Christians without Christ and without love.

And so Christmas is not only a reminder of how much God loves us, but also how much we should love other people. Is there someone you need to help this Christmas? Is there someone you need to reach out to this Christmas? Is there someone you need to forgive this Christmas?

From my family and the family at Deltona Aluminum, we wish your family a Merry Christmas and a happy new year.