O come let us adore Him Christ the Lord! This day, as the world is blanketed in white, peaceful, calm, and still, may we adore Christ the Lord and bless His name.  We have arrived to the week of one of the greatest celebrations for all Christians - the birth of Jesus Christ; the anticipation of the night before Christmas and arrival of God’s own Son the next day.  May we remember how blessed we are to be called the children of God, and let this celebration ring aloud not just this week, but for every day, month, and week to come. 

Over the past three weeks, we have covered the themes of advent.  We have embraced the Hope of Christ’s birth, rested in the everlasting Peace only Jesus can bring, and walked in the Joy of the season.  Today, let us embrace the Love of Christ. From the beginning, God has displayed His amazing love upon man, desiring for him to follow after His heart.  Sin entered this picture and distorted the perspective of this intimate relationship.  The only bridge that could bring clarity and the personal aspect of this relationship back would be through an amazing act.  An extravagant gift.  This gift was the love of God, found in His Perfect Son, Jesus Christ, Emmanuel. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16. Jesus would signify the deepest love of the Father, not only through His birth, but also in His death and Resurrection. He laid down His life so that we may have life. Let me say that again: He laid down His life so that we may LIVE!! This is the ultimate display of love, a love so deep, so wide, so extravagant, and it was and is lavished upon all of us.  We can gracefully walk across this bridge of love and commune with God, and intimately know Him.   

What is the Biblical definition of love? Lets look at 1 Corinthians 13:4-8: 

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. 

All-encompassing, all-pursuing, ever-flowing.  Love.  It is the catalyst and seal of a relationship.  And the love of God is richer and greater than any love seen or experienced.  And we can partake in that love relationship, simply by giving our life to devotion to Him.  And beyond this, we can even love as Christ - for we are commanded to do so: 

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. 1 John 4:7-12 

The love of God, so rich, so pure, so extravagant.  This ultimate gift of love brings hope, peace, and joy to all who thirst for Jesus, giving themselves completely to Him.  Be filled with this love this Christmas, resting in the flow of His mercy and grace.