Matthew and Timothy always look forward to Christmas
It was the time of the year when Grandma would make the 4½ hour trip to visit them for over a week
Every year a day or two before Christmas Grandma would arrive
She would arrive carrying her bags
Sometimes in those bags would be the perfect gift…
and other times you could tell grandma had little idea what young teenage boys were interested in or needed.
But that never worried Matthew and Timothy
Sure they liked receiving gifts
But what they enjoyed far more was grandma being with them
Grandma was like no one they knew
She was not demanding
They knew whenever grandma arrived they were going to be spoilt
They were going to be loved…..
loved far more than they deserved
It was like grandma bottled up all her love that had accumulated throughout the year then poured it all out when she visited them at Christmas
No matter how weird or grumpy Matthew and Timothy were grandma always seemed to know what to say and do, in her grandma caring way
She would always happily listen to their many stories
For some reason grandma had this ability to always be patient and to have a just the right word to say
And with each year her ability to love seems to get better
This is what Matthew and Timothy really look forward to at Christmas
grandma coming to be with them…
because with grandma came love.
Is there someone in your life that loves you like grandma?
Consider them blessings from God giving us a little sample of his love
Unfortunately for Matthew and Timothy there will be a time when grandma won’t be able to be there for Christmas
and all they will have are some special memories
Our readings from Psalm 136 and John 3 remind us that God is always wanting to love us
that God’s love is a love that never disappears
God’s love is for everyone
God’s love is long lasting
In fact Christmas exists because God decided to reveal His love in the form of Jesus
From John chapter 3:16
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
and from Psalm 136 we heard numerous times
His love endures forever
So as you prepare for Christmas
remember Christmas is about God loving you and others.
Does your Christmas look that way?
There is still time to do something about it if it doesn’t.
Now Romans chapter 5 verse gives us a very clear picture of how rare and special God’s love is
this is what it says reading from verse 6
You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Why did Jesus have to die?
Why did God need to do send Jesus?
The truth is he didn’t have to
God could have done what many people do when things don’t work as they should
He could have picked us up….thrown us aside and replaced all of humanity because weren’t up to His standard
But He didn’t
And the reason probably lies in the fact that central to God’s nature is love…
In fact to understand love, to comprehend what true love looks like we need to listen to the scriptures
1 John chapter 4 verses 7 and 8 says
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.
God is love.
Because God loves you and me He is drawn to making sure that what has affected our relationship with Him is addressed.
Christmas happened and happens because God shows us He loves us.
God loves you and me not because he doesn’t know our problems and faults
The truth is He knows everything about us
The Psalmist in Psalm 139 gives us a clear picture of what God knows about you and me
O LORD, you have searched me and you know me.
You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.
Because God was aware that we are unable to deal with sin and that sin has affected us so greatly
He uses his power to give us every possibility to make sure we can experience His love forever.
That is true love.
This is what Christmas is about.
God saying I love you.
Not just once
But repeatedly
For many years CS Lewis the author of Narnia tales declared there was no God
He constantly tried to avoid any discussion or information about God
However he says "...night after night, whenever my mind had a break from its busyness, I would sense God approaching me, yet again. I had desired so much not to meet him. Then I gave in. "
God’s constant loving perseverance destroyed CS Lewis solid brick wall....that existed between Him and God.
CS Lewis admitted that God was God and says, "I reluctantly knelt and prayed and that is why I wrote the book surprised by joy.”
What about you?
Do you fully appreciate how much God has loved you and continues to love you?
Do you realise that your life, your future has been shaped by this love that comes to us through the true story of Christmas?
Well grab hold of God’s love and let it really shape your life.
When we do, we don’t just sit securely and say my life is fine, God loves me and therefore I can do whatever I want.
God’s love inspires us,
God’s encourages us,
it motivates us,
it point us to living differently
To being people who love others
not to get anything from God
but so others have an opportunity to get something from God.
The call for every Christian is simple
We are called to make disciples of every person we know….
not just some….but everyone
and we are called to do this with love….
again from 1 John 4 verse 7 says
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God.
Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.
As you walk towards Christmas day
May you know how much God really loves you….
and may you reveal His love to everyone you meet so others may know the love of God you know.
As you hear someone’s story,
as you see someone working hard,
as you notice someone in trouble,
as you walk past your neighbour
pray to God asking Him to reveal how you can reveal His love to those who cross your path
Then love them....like God would love them.
Because His love is the best love of all
Amen
