Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends ~ John 15:13.
Introduction
Glory be to God! It is Christmas Sunday!! Alleluia!!!
Christmas commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ the Saviour about two thousand years ago in an out-of-the-way place, called Bethlehem of Judaea.
That day, the future of the world changed forever, when love and hope took the human form and appeared in swaddling clothes, in a manger. No wonder then that Charles Spurgeon said: "The greatest and the most momentous fact which the history of the world records is the fact of Christ's birth".
It was into a dark sinning world that God’s light and love appeared through Jesus Christ. The world was filled with chaos, wickedness and sin, but hope arrived and the atmosphere changed permanently when He came among us to save us from sin and Satan.
The true story of Christmas represents the giving heart of our Father-God, who gives good gifts to all who would receive them (Isaiah 9:6; James 1:17). And, the greatest gift of the Father to us is "Jesus Christ" — who is our life, hope, victory and full redemption (John 3:16; 10:10).
The birth of Jesus on the first day of Christmas was a tangible expression of God’s extravagant love for humanity. This agape love, which is the real gift of Christmas, is God’s redemptive love that can penetrate any yielded human heart with power to bring about a total transformation. Without doubt, the coming of Jesus Christ is good news of great joy, for all people.
God’s redeeming love is marked by a passionate concern for the needs of humanity, both physical and spiritual. It is the highest kind of love anyone can express to others (John 15:13). And, this love of God is wholly sacrificial in all contexts (1John 3:1; 4:10).
It is not only an emotional feeling; it is God Himself personified (1 John 4:7-8). Not just in mere words; it was a real love backed by action as observed in the birth of the Messiah at first Christmas.
Unfortunately, however, human beings often get caught up in the externalities of Christmas — the evergreen songs, the dazzling lights, the designer wears, the Christmas shows on television, and the gifts wrapped in colorful packages. Most certainly, this season is so much more than that.
As believers, we must rather keep the steady flame of the redeeming love, epitomized in the coming of Jesus Christ, burning in our hearts always. We must be alert and be truly open to live by the love of Jesus Christ who was born to redeem us.
Reflecting on God’s Redeeming Love at Christmas
The price of redeeming a sinful man is extremely high; nothing compares to it on this side of the universe. Even all the riches of the earth cannot pay the price of redeeming man, because it costs more than the whole world’s wealth (Psalm 49:6-12; Mark 8:36).
Please keep in mind that, in redeeming man from sin, God had to sacrifice His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, shedding His blood on the cross at Calvary in a very painful death. And, this shows how much God and His Son, Jesus Christ, love mankind (1 John 4:9, Romans 5:8).
Quite unfortunately, many people think of sin as a very cheap thing to practice. No, no at all. Sin is extremely expensive! Pardoned or unpardoned, its cost is infinitely great.
To be pardoned for sin, the cost falls chiefly on the great Atoning Substitute, Jesus Christ the Redeemer. And, the cost of unpardoned sins falls on the head of the guilty sinner, which is hell-expensive!
Happily though, in its reach, the redeeming love of God is limitless and all-inclusive; it is for the whole world. It is joyfully selfless, never ending, patient and kind. It protects, perseveres and never fails (1 Corinthians 13:4-8).
Meanwhile, just like it was in the Garden of Eden, when, with a loving voice God called out to Adam, He is still searching for lost sinners today by the power of His redeeming love (Genesis 3:9; Ezekiel 22:30; Jeremiah 5:1; Isaiah 59:16).
Embracing God’s Redeeming Love
Christmas is much more than the birth of the “baby Jesus” a long, long time ago. It is about your own rebirth when you let Jesus into your heart and fully embrace the power of His redeeming love. When that happens, you will be filled of God’s love, and will find it compelling to love others, even your enemies.
I am thoroughly convinced that it really doesn't matter what we are if we don't learn to love. Love is supreme (1Corinthians 13:1-4). Nothing is of any worth if we do not learn to love.
The Scribes and Sadducees of Jesus' day debated about which was the greatest commandment in the law. When they came and asked Jesus about it, He told them, first, to love the Lord, with all their heart, soul, mind and strength; and second was to love their neighbours as themselves (Matthew 22:37-38).
To truly live in love, Jesus Christ must be actually born in your heart. Hypocrites cannot sustain God’s love in their hearts because it is not a set of rules to keep but the disposition of a new heart given by God.
Christmas is a matter of the heart, a heartfelt relationship with the Son of God who was born on the first Christmas day to transform the world with the redeeming love of God.
Indeed, Christians ought to be the light of the world and the salt of the earth, and wherever we go, we ought to touch every life we can with the Gospel. But we can only do this in an atmosphere of genuine love, which Christ represents.
Meanwhile, God desires that we grow up in His love, and even keep ourselves in it. He also wants us to show this love as we labour to impact the world, especially with the gospel. Until divine love matures and abides in the heart, living remains a deep constant struggle.
Jesus Christ is the banner and the epitome of God’s love for the world (2 Thessalonians 2:16). It was pure love that made Him to come at first Christmas, and sent Him to the Cross at the fullness of time. He is not willing that anyone should perish but that all men should be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth (2 Peter 3:9; 1 Timothy 2:4).
Beloved, have you accepted and fully embraced this great love of God? I implore all men and women, the world over, to rise up at once and embrace this love and begin to enjoy the hope and peace it brings. Happy Christmas Sunday!
Rhema Christian Church,
Otta, Ogun State, Nigeria.
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