For while we were still helpless, at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly. For rarely will someone die for a just person—though for a good person perhaps someone might even dare to die. But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:6-8
What would it take for you to take someone off your Christmas card list?
Not quite as many people are sending Christmas cards these days, but getting taken off the Christmas card list used to be a fairly big deal. These days we probably use it more as banter… “Right, that’s you off the Christmas card list ya daftie!” I’m sure someone’s said that, somewhere…
Anyway, the point was that being taken off the Christmas card list was a major rejection, being cast aside, disregarded, no longer a friend. Like getting unfriended on Facebook these days maybe?
Someone could reject us, hurt us or offend us, and we’d be done with them.
They’re no longer a friend. They’re now an enemy.
They’re off the Christmas card list.
Christmas reminds us that God showed love to His enemies.
Jesus was born to rescue His enemies.
In our sin, we have rejected God. We have rejected His loving, sovereign rule in our lives. We have acted in utter rebellion. Our hearts are ruled by desires to control our own lives or find pleasure on our own terms. In our pride we want to impress other people, rather than live for God’s glory. We’ve made ourselves enemies of God. He would be absolutely right to reject us eternally.
“But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
God didn’t wait for us to sort ourselves out. He didn’t wait for us to turn back to Him. He wasn’t looking for us to beg for forgiveness. Because we wouldn’t and we couldn’t.
He took the initiative. He showed what His love was like. He sent His Son.
He sent His Son to die for the very people who had completely rejected Him.
We can find it hard to love even the closest people to us at times. We hold back from showing our love if we’re frustrated with them, or hurt by them.
We can be so petty, and withdraw our love from someone for the smallest reason. We might wipe them off the Christmas card list and that’s that.
God’s love isn’t petty. He has showed and still shows love to the very people who don’t deserve it.
Jesus was born because God loves the unlovable.
O Come Let Us Adore Him!
A thought to remember: God loves the unlovable.
A question to ask: How does God’s love for you change how you show love to others?
A bit more to read: Romans 5:1-11
A song to sing: What Child Is This?