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I came across this lovely Christmas poem and wanted to share it with you:
Love came down at Christmas;
Love all lovely, love divine;
Love was born at Christmas, Stars and angels gave the sign.-
Christina Georgina Rossetti (1830-1894)
Love came down at Christmas in the form of baby Jesus.
Maybe it’s the years working as a Labor and Delivery nurse, but newborn babies absolutely capture my heart. They are so tiny and helpless, with the softest skin and sweetest smell. By rough estimate, I’ve seen over 2000 babies come into the world and consider each one an awe-inspired miracle.
Observing the nativity scene with Jesus as a helpless, perfect, newborn brings the same response. Miraculously, without ceasing to be God, Jesus chooses to come to us in the form of a tiny, helpless infant.
He chose to become human to fulfill the Father’s plan of salvation for all people. Laying aside His glory, Jesus traded in His throne for a bed in a dark and lowly animal shelter.
Why would our King lower Himself this way?
He did it all for love; love for His Father and love for us. His was not a self-serving or warm fuzzy feeling love, but a deeply sacrificial love that makes a way for us to be in fellowship with him forever.
It was His grand design in the beginning, and it was His great love that made it possible. Jesus’s entire life was love in action.
“This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.” 1 John 4:9. Jesus was God’s Christmas gift to the world.
I used to picture God as a “thunderbolt throwing” God; angry with the sin of the world and the part I played with my sinful ways. How could I be so wrong?
No matter what we’ve done, God loves us with an everlasting, deep love and He desires to have a personal loving relationship with me.
He wants us to graciously accept this Christmas gift He offers. We can let the gift go unopened, sitting under the tree with its wrapping intact.
He took that chance, all for the desired outcome of us choosing to love him back. He waits expectantly, hoping we accept the gift, His Son, and His sacrifice.
What do we do with a love like that? How do we say thank you for a Christmas gift so magnificent?
The following words of Jesus come to mind:
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.” Matthew 22: 37-38
It’s the response we should have when we have accepted the love He has shown us. He wants all our love- heart, soul, and mind. Out of that love should come a love for others.
Loving as he does shows the world we are his followers. We are a witness to him when we show love. Jesus tells us “Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” John 13:35.
If we are to love like Jesus that means caring deeply for all his people. It's action-oriented. It’s a love that benefits others before self.
He showed love by caring for the physical and spiritual needs of many. Jesus showed us exactly what compassionate, unconditional, sacrificial love looks like.
How can you show his kind of love this Christmas season? Maybe we can show more love for the people God has given us in our lives. Perhaps we can find a way to open our hearts and reach out to those who are lonely or hurting. There are so many opportunities to give in the Christmas season.
Shine the light of Jesus’ love this season in as many ways that you can. Remind the world that celebrating Christmas is celebrating the love of Jesus.
Blessings!
AnnMarie
“Beloved, let us love one another, for love comes from God.” John 4:7
AnnMarie Anderson answered the call to reach busy women with the hope and encouragement of God's Word in 2017, publishing weekly uplifting blog posts and offering a free Biblical Resource Library. She had been in that busy place of job, home, family, and commitments with little time or energy to dig into the Bible. You can find her at busyblessedwomen.com,
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