One Word for Christmas

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.
1 John 4:9 ESV

Love wrapped up.

The one word wrapped up in the manger is love. And not just any love, but the lavish love of God Himself swaddled in a feed trough in Bethlehem.

Jesus – the Word made flesh, the Son of God, God-Incarnate – is the most wonderous expression of God’s love. Even though we rebelled, He chose to leave His divinity behind and exchange it for flesh and blood.

We broke all creation, but He came to fix it.

Love open to all.

Jesus is the Way of love. In Him, we see God the Father. We see the Creator’s heart open to all without partiality.

He longs for all to return to Him.
He died for all the sins of the world.

He waits with open arms for the people He loves to see the light of truth.

Love’s unvaried grace.

Without variation, His graces are available to whosoever.

Whosoever believes.
Whosoever sorrows over sin.
Whosoever longs to be free.

Any “whosoever” can come to Him and find His mercies new every morning, His love steadfast and unfailing, His healing undeniable.

His name is Love and we celebrate His birth at Christmas.

Love invites.

He calls from the crib to everyone who is tired of the old and is ready to be made new.

His coming down, His stooping low, is an invitation of love. Love willing to do what we couldn’t. Love willing to pay the price we can’t. In laying down His life, He invites us to embrace life and not just any life, but an abundant life of love.

Love came down to invite us to receive His grace.

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ — by grace you have been saved…
Ephesians 2:4-5 ESV

Reflect.

Do you see His love wrapped up in the manger? How?

Have you experienced His invitation of love stooping down to you? When? What was your response?

Ask God to open your eyes to see and your heart to receive the love He graces you with each and every day.

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Christmas blessings!

Carol