Love At Christmas Series

The Heart of Christmas: Love

Galatians 4:4-5; Ephesians 1:3-14; 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Just a few days ago, many of us woke up to Christmas morning. You got out of bed, made your way to the tree, and there they were—the gifts. Each box, different in size, shape, and weight, quietly invited curiosity. Before a single package was opened, the mystery alone stirred joy in the heart. As the paper was torn away and ribbons were tossed aside, gift by gift was revealed—and with each one came a different reaction. Some gifts were practical and appreciated: warm socks, gloves, scarves, or a winter jacket—things that will serve us well on cold nights ahead. Others weren’t a surprise at all but still brought a smile—like opening the new fridge and admiring all that shelf space or sinking into a new couch that no longer sags toward the floor. And then there were the gifts we didn’t really need but deeply wanted. The wireless earbuds, the new smartphone, gourmet chocolates, a surround-sound television—or maybe even the promise of a long-dreamed-of trip to somewhere warm and beautiful. Standing back and looking at the opened packages beneath the tree, it was hard not to feel overwhelmed by the abundance of blessings.

But as wonderful as some of those gifts were, you must admit—not every gift was a good one. Some were… well… truly hideous. There was the sweater—three sizes too large—with a reindeer on it wearing a Christmas hat. You wore it once, just long enough to protect the giver’s feelings, and then quietly retired it forever. Or perhaps you remember opening a rocking Santa Claus—sunglasses on, electric guitar in hand—which seemed amusing at first, until it began playing the same annoying Christmas tune repeatedly… and wouldn’t shut off.

And then there was that Christmas, when you were just a child and all you wanted was a remote-control car. Your parents saved it for last, knowing full well that every other gift would be forgotten the moment you opened it. Batteries were installed, excitement was at its peak, and you sent that car flying across the room—until it hit the very first wall. Boom. It fell apart instantly, never to run again. And of course, who could forget the tie you’d never wear… or the used set of golf clubs held together with tape—when you don’t even like golf. These were the kinds of gifts so bad you would never dream of re-gifting them. That would be embarrassing… and possibly cruel.

As I’ve been listing those bad gifts, I’m sure some of you have been quietly objecting. After all, we are not all the same. Our tastes differ, our interests vary, and what one person considers useless, another may treasure deeply. One person’s disappointment really can be someone else’s delight. But that raises an important question. What if you were given the task of choosing just one gift to give to every person in the world? Is there anything you could buy that would be welcomed by all? Something practical, deeply satisfying, and so meaningful that it would be cherished—not just on Christmas morning, but every day for the rest of life? Humanly speaking, such a gift seems impossible. Yet this is exactly what God has done. He did not give us something temporary or disposable. He gave us His one and only Son—born among us, living for us, and dying for us—so that we might be redeemed and welcomed into His family. Today, we are going to consider this perfect gift of love—why God gave it, what it means for us, and how we are called not merely to receive it, but to share it with the world.

Love Sent: God’s Love Entered our World

To truly grasp the greatness of God’s gift, we must first understand the world into which that gift was sent. It was a time when Pax Romana—the “peace of Rome”—stretched across much of the known world. This peace was achieved through military dominance, an expansive system of roads, and thriving trade routes that connected distant regions. Rome even absorbed the gods of conquered peoples, promoting unity through shared worship and loyalty to the empire. So successful did Rome appear in securing order that its emperor, Augustus, was celebrated as a savior and honored with the title “Son of God.” Yet beneath this outward stability, the world remained deeply broken. Scripture reminds us that our struggle is not merely political or human, “but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12).

Pax Romana enforced loyalty, demanded honor toward the emperor, and normalized the worship of many gods. But darkness is not found only in violence and oppression—it is also found wherever hearts give allegiance to anyone or anything other than the one true Creator. Rome’s peace could restrain chaos, but it could never redeem the soul. Out of grace and mercy, our Father who is in heaven sent a great Light into this world.