Every day of the year we should think about what actually happened on that starry night roughly 2,000 years ago. We all know the events that took place that night and we all know the conclusion of the life of that child born that night to the virgin mother. But let me ask you this, do you realize that what happened that night showed us what Godly Love really is, and showed us how we should love each other daily? I bet you never have thought of Christmas in that respect, I know I hadn't until a day or so ago and it hit me. When Christ was born , the world became the recipient of a Love that no man had ever seen before. We became the recipient's of the greatest gift any man could ever ask for. John 3:16 says that "FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD that HE GAVE HIS ONLY begotten SON, that WHOSOEVER believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." We have all heard this verse thousands of times, and it is probably one of the most quoted verses out there, but I had never really associated it with Christmas until now. Let me explain.
I want to put this into a different light. Let's imagine that you are the King of a vast land, and you have millions of subjects that you are trying to protect and take care of. Well one day another king invades your territory, and he is just wiping out your army and it looks like it wont be long until he has total control of you vast empire and you will have no more followers, no more land nothing but empty shells where families once lived and your empire will be in ruins. a herald comes and he announces to you that this opposing King will let everyone in your Kingdom live and he will return unto his own kingdom if you send out your only son to fight him. That's all he wants is to fight your son. Now being a dad you immediately refuse that idea, I mean after all that's YOUR SON, your flesh and blood, and you know that you Will never have another child as you have reached an age that prevents such a thing. You also know that this opposing King is a master swordsman, a master archer and has never lost a fight ever. You also know your Son is a fair fighter but he is no match for the other King and you know that it is certain death for him if you send him.You sit back and you also realize that you are the King of these millions of subjects, and without doing something they most certainly will all die slaves to this king who is calling out your son.What do you do. Well after much deliberation and several sleepless nights, you send your son out to face this king, and as you thought, your son is killed. The opposing King honors his word and leaves and all those million in your kingdom are saved. You knew that you would lose your only son, but your love for your subjects was so strong that you willingly sent out your son, knowing the end result was death.How strong a Love is that, well it's a Godly love, its a love that is not selfish. It's a love that knows no boundaries. That my brothers and sisters is the Love the God the Father showed us when on the starry night , he sent his son to Earth as a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes to eventually die for our sins and save us. I heard it said one time that Christianity is a bloody religion, and you know what, they're right. For without the blood of Jesus, without the blood of that Baby born all those many years ago, we would have no salvation, and no shot at eternal life.That my brothers and sisters is what I call UNCONDITIONAL LOVE. But now that we realize what Godly love is , are we showing that to those who are lost, dying and headed for an eternal damnation? Are we showing it to our fellow believers that we share the pew with on Sunday, Wednesday, and any other time we get together as believers?
1 John 4:15-21 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. We love him, because he first loved us. If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also. Did you catch that? GOD IS LOVE and WE LOVE HIM BECAUSE HE FIRST LOVED US. This is evident on that Starry night when he sent his son ,Jesus to Earth to be a ransom or our sins. but then John states AND THIS COMMANDMENT WE HAVE FROM HIM THAT HE WHO LOVETH GOD LOVE HIS BROTHER ALSO. That means that if you are a true believer in Christ , you have to love your brother. Now I understand people can make you mad, and that is a human trait, but the bible tells us to BE ANGRY AND SIN NOT (Ephesian 4:26), so anger is still not an excuse for not loving your brother. So how do we show Godly Love. Well, have you ever seen someone in need and you just walked on by. That's not showing Godly love. Have you ever run across someone who just needed to hear the words its gonna be OK, but you chose to walk on by and let them sit there and be miserable,. Well that's not showing Godly love. Godly love is shown when we take time to truly care about our neighbors. Now I don't mean run out and give all your food away and all your possession's away, unless God tells you too , then you better do it. But what I am talking about is caring enough about your fellow man to pray for your brother who is down hearted or going through something that you may have no idea how to sympathize, but you do know how to pray, or you should. If you run across someone who is starving ,whether that be in a physical sense or a spiritual sense and you know you have the means to help, then show that person some Godly Love and help them. If you know your brother or your sister is struggling and they need a little encouragement, then go to them , pray with them.They might say all I want is someone to be here, then go be there. You might not say one word the entire time your together but you know what Actions speak louder than words most of the time. If you claim to be a follower of Christ, show it by showing that Godly Love that God the Father showed us. You know Joseph had a big decision to make when he found out that his fiancee was pregnant,The bible says that he didn't want to make a public example of her and even thought about putting her away privately.Even after the Angel of the Lord came and told him that she carried the son of god who would save the nations, he could have walked away and said yea right there was no angel that was only a dream, but he didn't. He took Mary and made her his wife and loved her. Now that is a Godly Love.Its an unconditional love, one that says no matter what I will love you always.
That is what the birth of Christ says to me. It was Gods was of saying OK People here he is my only son, i realize he has to suffer and die in order to save you, but I am willing to let him go through that because of my Love for you.A Love he had before the world was even created (John 17:23-24). Brethren do yo have that Love, that you would sacrifice your only son, or your life for another? What about for someone you have never met? Are we as Christians showing that Godly Love that was Shown to us on that First Christmas Morning? I pray we are and I pray that the Christmas season is more to you than presents and wrapping paper, more than eggnog and pecan pie.More than bargain sales and crowds at the shopping center. I pray that the true meaning of Christmas will shine through to you this day and you will realize, that the Greatest Gift God ever gave us, Salvation, started out as a gift of Love in the form of a tiny baby, born in Bethlehem roughly 2,000 years ago and ended as a sacrificial lamb on Calvary's Cross approximately 33 yrs later. Merry Christmas and may God Bless you this night with his love, his comfort, but most of all his presence.
In Christ's Love,
Bill
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