How would you use the words “love” and “Christmas” together in a sentence? The most common way is, I love Christmas. Another way refers to how the birth of our Savior changed the world. Because of the compassion of God, He designed for us to live the love of Christmas every day.
For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. John3:16
History reveals many important moments throughout the centuries. The greatest of these events was when God became a man, we call it Christmas.
The Christmas Story
According to Luke 2, to register for the census, Joseph needed to go to Bethlehem.
He took with him Mary, to whom he was engaged, who was now expecting a child. And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. Luke 2:5-6
Since there was no room for them in the inn, they ended up in a stable.
Mary gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, Luke 2:7
As shepherds watched their sheep, angels visited them. He told them about the birth of Jesus. Joined by a heavenly host they filled the sky with sounds of worship. The shepherds were excited about this news and went to see that which the angels told them.
This glorious event was the beginning of John 3:16 where it says this is how God Loved the world . . . This was a new era of joy, peace, and love that still lives on today.
Live the Love of Christmas Everyday
God didn’t just say the words, “I love you,” no! He backed them up in John 3:16. He said For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son.
Do you have special memories of Christmases in your life? Maybe you have some good ones and some not so good. We all have a story to tell. Let’s look at the story that Joseph and Mary had to tell about that first Christmas night.
Jesus’ birth came with no fanfare, no fancy hospitals, not even a room in the inn. His birth was predicted years before by the prophets.
It was foretold that He was coming in the flesh to make His dwelling among us. But for Joseph and Mary, that night they seemed alone in the world.
The city of Bethlehem was filled with an abundance of people. But in a stable that night, quiet, dark, and lonely it appeared that nobody really cared.
This was anything but the ideal setting. Neither one of them pictured this in their minds.
The shepherds showed up later that night and told Mary and Joseph about their angelic visit. The angel’s announcement filled the hearts of this young couple with joy.
God revealed His love to Mary and Joseph once again through the shepherds. When we feel that we are all alone in this world, and it appears that nobody really cares, God cares.
He’ll reveal His love to us in unexpected ways. He desires to be a part of our lives and to interact with us daily.
Lord, thank you for showing your love to us. Help us to apply your love to our lives in everything we do.
Read the Christmas story according to Luke
This is an updated edition of a post originally published on Christian Perspectives
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