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 ESV).
Our love for others should follow, not merely as an obligation, but as a natural outflow of God’s love for us. If God loved us so much that he sent his Son Jesus to die for us, how can we not love others in return? And if God loved others so much that he sent his Son Jesus to die for them, how can we not love them as well? This means we love like He loved. We didn’t do anything to deserve or earn His love. He gave it first without any reason from us to do so. That may be the most difficult practice of faith. It does not leave any room for our arbitrary rejection of others based on personal preference. It also calls on us to serve others. Christmas then becomes this incredible reminder of how much God loves you, and how much we should love other people.
Perhaps you are a bit overwhelmed with the incredible needs of others in our day. May I suggest you start with a genuine effort to forgive those who have offended you? God did that. Perhaps it may be a simple gesture through a kindness to someone less fortunate than you. It may be a smile and kind word of greeting to the clerk at your local grocery. Can you imagine how hard it must be for that person to see hundreds of people every day with very little positive feedback? I know… groceries are very expensive these days. However, the clerk isn’t responsible for that. Be kind.
Perhaps there is someone you may go a bit farther with in expressing your love. Let the Holy Spirit guide you in your expression of love this Christmas.
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