The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love. God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his one and only Son into the world so that we might live through him. Love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.
1 John 4:8-10
The Muppets Christmas Carol is quite possibly my favourite Christmas movie. The film is the classic retelling of the Dickens story, filled with injustice, greed, the effects of time and ultimately, redemption.
The songs in it are absolute gold, so catchy! When Scrooge meets the Ghost of Christmas Present, they sing ‘It feels like Christmas.’
It’s a solid rebuke to the selfish, loveless scrooge. It holds up love as a Christmas centrepiece.
“In all the places you find love It feels like Christmas”
“Yes, when you do your best for love It feels like Christmas”
“It's true where ever you find love It feels like Christmas”
Part of Scrooge’s redemption in the story is growing in love for his colleagues, his family, and the needy around him.
Not many would argue with love being a central theme of Christmas! All you need is love after all eh?
But what is love? Is it simply a feeling that comes and goes or is it something more?
Love is indeed a Christmas centrepiece, because Christmas is a reminder that God has shown His love.
1 John 4 paints a beautiful picture of love, rooted in God.
“God is love.” V8
Just as God is the source of all life, all good, all creation, so too He is the source of all love.
God lives in love. The Father, Son and Spirit have lived eternally in loving unity.
At His core, God lives and acts out of love. His holiness is loving. His sovereignty is loving. His goodness is loving.
We don’t live and act out of love all the time. But God does.
He defines love because He is love. That doesn’t mean that any kind of love we feel is God. Love is not God. Love is not the ultimate thing we need to find in life. God is.
All too often we get that the wrong way round though, and we want love to be the thing that satisfies us.
If we want to truly know love, then we need to know God.
If we want to feel deep love, then we need to know God.
“God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his one and only Son into the world so that we might live through him.” V9
God has put His love on display for everyone to see. He’s not kept it quiet. He’s declared His love. He’s announced it to the world.
He has shown His love by sending His Son.
The baby in the manger is a declaration of love.
God has displayed love, and welcomed His people to share in that love. He’s done it by sending Jesus to be a sacrifice for sin, so that His people may live in love eternally.
In his holiness and sovereign power, God could have left his people to bear their own punishment. But in His love, He has made a way for rescue. Not that we loved God, but that He loved us.
If we want love this Christmas, we should come to the Bible.
If we want love this Christmas, then we need to know Jesus.
O Come Let Us Adore Him!
A thought to remember: God is love.
A question to ask: Will you look to know love by turning to Jesus today?
A bit more to read: 1 John 4:7-21
A song to sing: Sing We the Song of Emmanuel