By Brooke Momblow
"Maybe Christmas…perhaps…means a little bit more!" ~ Dr. Seuss
We used to send Christmas letters every year to our family and friends with a recap of all that had taken place and pictures to enhance the retelling. One year I decided to get creative and write in a Dr. Seuss fashion. Some found it very entertaining, while others couldn’t understand a word I was saying…
So, while the witty Dr. Seuss may have some great insights, I will speak quite plainly and directly to you about Love.
Christmas does mean a little bit more. It means all of the things we’ve been discussing together this Advent. Christmas for those who have Christ indwelling means Hope, Peace, Joy, and most important of all - Love
God’s Love for us.
Our Love for God.
God’s Love in us being given freely to everyone.
Without Love we are nothing. Without God’s Love for us there is no purpose in life.
Knowing we are Loved gives us great Joy and Peace and Hope.
The Excellence of Love
If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love for others growing out of God’s love for me, then I have become only a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal, just an annoying distraction.
And if I have the gift of prophecy and speak a new message from God to the people, and understand all mysteries, and possess all knowledge; and if I have all-sufficient faith so that I can remove mountains, but do not have love reaching out to others, I am nothing.
If I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it does me no good at all.
Love endures with patience and serenity, love is kind and thoughtful, and is not jealous or envious; love does not brag and is not proud or arrogant. It is not rude; it is not self-seeking, it is not provoked nor overly sensitive and easily angered; it does not take into account a wrong endured.
It does not rejoice at injustice, but rejoices with the truth when right and truth prevail.
Love bears all things regardless of what comes, believes all things looking for the best in each one, hopes all things remaining steadfast during difficult times, endures all things without weakening.
Love never fails, it never fades nor ends.
But as for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for the gift of special knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part for our knowledge is fragmentary and incomplete. But when that which is complete and perfect comes (Second Advent), that which is incomplete and partial will pass away. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things.
For now in this time of imperfection we see in a mirror dimly, a blurred reflection, a riddle, an enigma, but then when the time of perfection comes we will see reality face to face. Now I know in part, just in fragments, but then I will know fully, just as I have been fully known by God.
And now there remain: faith - abiding trust in God and His promises, hope - confident expectation of eternal salvation, love - unselfish love for others growing out of God’s love for me, these three the choicest graces; but the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 13 AMP
At the beginning of this year we laughed together that “The Church has left the building!”
-What is the real Church?
-Where is the real Church?
-Who is the real Church?
-Exactly what does a real Church do when we aren’t in the building?
Father God,
We thank you for your many graces to us during this long hard season. We thank you for the reminder of Advent to celebrate your great love for us and the many blessings you give. Help us grow in depth of insight to apply love in our life, that we may be rooted in it, know it intimately, becoming mature in our love for you and others. Thank you for your Son Jesus, for your faithfulness to us, for your never-ending love, for the security of knowing you are in control always. May we praise you continually in all things, and may you be glorified in us. Amen.
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