Dear St. George’s,
Christmas assures us of God’s love. There are at least two dangers in considering God’s love. First, that we would presume upon a sappy, soppy sentimentalism not consistent with the God who reveals Himself in creation, the covenants, the history of His people in His word and ultimately in Jesus. In so doing we reduce God’s love to hollow whimsy. Second, we could allow our experiences of broken, manipulative, fickle human affection to colour the deep reality of God’s rich unmerited love for His people. Christmas reveals a love different from both.
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 1 John 4:7-11
John, the beloved disciple, says that if we want to know what God’s love looks like we need only look to the incarnation. The birth of Jesus demonstrates a type of love not readily seen in our world today. God extends Himself to His people in an unprecedented way by sending His Son into the world. Jesus’ birth becomes a paradigm for our own love and life; love that is self-sacrificing in the extreme.
When was the last time you gave until it hurt? Can you think of a time when you loved your wife, or husband or children – or even your fellow Christian – in a way that set aside your own claim to being right? Has there been a moment when you have decided to forfeit your right to be right in favour of another person? Those are moments when we catch but the slightest glimpse of Christmas-love.
So, St. Paul writes, So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:1-11
God’s glory is made known in Christmas because the incarnation of the Son of God marks the beginning of a journey that will lead Him to the cross. God’s is a self-sacrificing love, by which He saves sinners like you and me. In so doing, Jesus redeems a people and lives His life as an object lesson establishing the way those same redeemed people ought to live and love. The love we show for one another is our fitting response to the great love He has lavished on us.
Remember these familiar words, “Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another … have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus.”
Take time to gaze upon the Christ-child through the eyes of faith. Consider His great love and humility. May your life, your family and our church drip with Christmas-love.
Yours in Christ,
Ray David
Christmas Services:
Dec. 19th 10:00 a.m. Service of Lessons and Carols
Dec. 24th 4:00 p.m. Family Service of Holy Communion
Dec. 24th 9:00 p.m. Service of Holy Communion
Dec. 25th 9:00 a.m. Service of Holy Communion
Dec. 26th 10:00 a.m. Service of Morning Prayer
Amen! Thanks, RD!