Love. Isn’t that what Christmas is all about? A God who loved us so much that as John 3:16 says, “he gave his only begotten Son.” No greater love. It’s easy to get so caught up in the hustle and bustle of Christmas to forget the reason for the season. Baking, shopping, running after last minute presents and shoving our entire families into their Christmas Eve best to get a photo we hope will be Instagram worthy with hearts of approval flooding our feed.
Today many of us will gather with friends and family around a table to laugh, tell stories and make memories of another year that is coming to an end. Others will spend their day at the local church preparing a spiritual table of carols and Christmas readings and ultimately sacrifice a day with biological family for a day serving your church family. There are some who will feel the weight of loss as someone they love dearly is no longer here and their empty seat brings tears and heartache that only a Heavenly Father can understand. There will be those laughing and celebrating on the outside yet feeling lonely and unseen on the inside.
He came for all of the above.
He has commissioned us to reach all of the above.
Christmas Eve is an opportunity for us to do as Anna and Simeon spent all those years doing in the temple in Luke 2; telling everyone we meet of a coming Messiah. You can’t shop for it, wrap it or find a suitable replacement. This love is a free gift that cannot be returned, only given away. What a gift to give others, the hope and love that has come and His name is JESUS! Don’t waste a moment of this day and all the other days to come.
This is a love every heart needs. The love of God.
No matter what this day brings us I pray that as we lay our heads on our pillows in the stillness of this silent night I pray we will all able to quiet ourselves to hear the voice of our Father. Who reminds us He loves us so much just as we are and that he sent his only Son as a baby to save each of us. To redeem us. Who desperately wants us. Who will come back as King and every knee will bow and every tongue confess that He is Lord.
“O GOD, who makest us glad with the yearly remembrance of the birth of thine only Son Jesus Christ; Grant that as we joyfully receive him for our Redeemer, so we may wit sure confidence behold him when he shall come to be our Judge, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, world with out end. Amen.” Book of Common Prayers