Love

As we enter into these final days leading up to Christmas, may we be reminded that it is the love of Christ that compels us. It pushes us forward. Jesus entered this world as a baby, went through all of the stages of development, and became the man we read so much about. At every turn, he stood up for what was right. He fought for the underdog. He ate with those deemed unworthy by the world around them. The way he loved people continually pointed them to his Father; everyone was welcome. God, through Christ, brought reconciliation to the world, and he has charged us with the mission of continuing on in this reconciliation.

Jesus exemplifies selfless love. The kind of love that says I will lay down my life for you, even if you don't fully understand the reasons why. The kind of love that meets us in our messy middle and doesn't shame us or embarrass us, but rather sits down with us, and is patient with us as we move toward hope and renewal. He demonstrates the kind of love that compels us to seek him as Savior.

We are meant to set aside our selfishness and to live lives of love, not for ourselves, but for Jesus. Every word, every action, every deed filtered through the lens of the old having passed away and the new taking up residence from within.

2 Corinthians 5:14-19
For the love of Christ compels us, since we have reached this conclusion, that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all so that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for the one who died for them and was raised. From now on, then, we do not know anyone from a worldly perspective. Even if we have known Christ from a worldly perspective, yet now we no longer know him in this way. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come! Everything is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation. That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and he has committed the message of reconciliation to us.

As this Season of Advent draws to a close, may we pause and reflect on the goodness of our God. May we be reminded that God has reconciled us to himself and that our HOPE rests in him. May we be reminded that we can know PEACE because we know the author of our days. May our hearts be radiant with JOY, and may our lives overflow with a LOVE that transforms the world day by day.  


Wishing each of you a very Merry Christmas! Melissa