God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. – 1 John 4:9

Merry Christmas from all of us at See Hear Love! Thank you so much for joining us! This is a busy time of year and we are thrilled that you are here.

Today marks not only Christmas Day, but also the fourth week of Advent where we focus on love. The Christmas story is filled with God’s love for us, and our love for one another. There is so much worth celebrating.

God gave us Jesus because He loved us. He so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Usually, good parents will willingly die for their children as an expression of their love. God loved us so much, that he willingly allowed his Son to die for us.

Had God wanted to send us a message, he could have sent more tablets down from the mountain or talked from a burning bush. But, this time, God wanted to enter into our experience and show us how much he loves us. So He sent not a warrior to die on the battlefield for our sins, but a baby. And when God gave us his only Son to mock, and betray, and kill, He showed us there was nothing he would not do for his creation.

But Jesus was not just born to be a sacrifice. He was born to show us how love could look in human form. He was born to sit with the broken and the lonely, and to give us a glimpse of the Kingdom. Before Jesus arrived, we did not know what love looked like. We thought it looked like animal sacrifice, or following religious laws to the letter. But Jesus showed us that love does not look like that at all. He showed us that loving God means loving others as much as you love yourself. He showed us that loving God means feeding His sheep.

In his letter to the Corinthian church, Paul defines what Christ-centered love looks like. It’s the kind of love embodied by Jesus. It’s the kind of love God wanted us to feel and to give.

Love is patient and kind.

Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude.

It does not demand its own way.

It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged.  

It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out.  

Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful,

and endures through every circumstance.

Today, let the love of God surround you. Recognize the beautiful gift of his Son, Jesus. And as you interact with friends and family in the days and weeks ahead, let yourself be an agent of God’s love. Be patient, be kind, be faithful. And live knowing you are seen, heard and deeply loved by God.

Merry Christmas.