Let There Be Love
As we approach Christmas day, we're reminded of a powerful truth: the time of the Lord's favor has come.
But what does this really mean for us today? How does it manifest in our communities, our country, and our personal lives?
The Good News proclaimed in Luke 4:18-19 speaks of captives being released, the blind receiving sight, and the oppressed being set free. It's a message of hope, transformation, and God's love breaking into our world unexpectedly. As we reflect on these words, we're challenged to consider: Who are the captives in our midst? Who are the poor, the blind, and the oppressed that need to experience this Good News?
The beauty of Christ's coming is that it's for everyone. No matter our circumstances, we all need Christ as our deliverer, rescuer, and savior. Each year, as we navigate through sorrow, pain, frustration, and injustice, we're reminded of our deep need for the love of Christ to invade our world. This is the heart of Advent – the anticipation of Christ's arrival and the renewal it brings to our weary souls.
But did you know that the Christmas story doesn't begin with Mary and Joseph? Its roots stretch back thousands of years to a promise made to Abraham. God called Abraham to leave everything familiar behind and journey to an unknown land, with the assurance of blessing and the promise that through him, all families of the earth would be blessed.
This blessing isn't just about material prosperity. In Hebrew, to be blessed is to experience wholeness, peace, and supernatural perfection. It's the fulfillment of our deepest desires, the answer to our search for true happiness and meaning. How often do we chase after this wholeness through misguided means – impulse purchases, unhealthy coping mechanisms, or surface-level satisfactions? Yet these attempts can never truly satisfy the soul's longing for completeness.
The love of God, initiated at Creation and lived out through the promise to Abraham, finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ. He is the embodiment of God's promise for wholeness, not just for a select few, but for all people on earth. In our weakness and brokenness, God offers to make us whole through Christ.
This wholeness, however, often requires us to leave our comfort zones. Just as Abraham was called to leave his country, we, too, are invited to leave behind the familiar territories of our lives that may be hindering our spiritual growth. What "country" might God be calling you to leave? It could be a mindset, a habit, or a source of false identity that's keeping you from experiencing the fullness of God's blessing.
Our identities are often tied to things like our nationality, career, relationships, or personal values. While these aren't inherently negative, they can become idols if we orient our lives around them instead of Christ. Christmas begins with an invitation to leave these places of false security and embark on a journey to find our true identity in God.
This journey might mean leaving behind:
The country of political captivity
The realm of flippant sexuality
The landscape of insatiable fighting
The territory of unending consumerism
The nation of proud individuality
The land of rampant classism
Essentially, we're called to become "nobodies" in the world's eyes, finding our identity solely in Christ. It's a challenging call that comes with an incredible promise – that God will make something great out of our lives when we trust Him completely.
Remember, God isn't limited by the things that often concern us – age, barrenness, or brokenness. He's the God who makes dead things live, who brought forth life from a virgin's womb. No situation is too dire, no person is too far gone for His transformative love.
This love is the true light of Christmas. It's not just about the physical light of creation, but the spiritual light of Christ that brings wholeness to everyone. God desires this wholeness for all people – that's the heart of Christmas, that's love manifested in our weakness.
History gives us beautiful glimpses of this love breaking through even in the darkest times. Consider the Christmas Truce of 1914 during World War I. During brutal warfare, German and English soldiers laid down their weapons on Christmas Eve to sing carols, exchange gifts, and even play soccer together. It was a powerful reminder that beneath the violence and hatred, our shared humanity – rooted in the love of Christ – can still shine through.
We become what we worship, for better or for worse. When we organize our lives around ego, power, or materialism, we become smaller, pettier versions of ourselves. But when we worship Christ, we have the potential to become as beautiful, loving, and compassionate as He is. We can be the ones singing hope into the night, stopping the bullets of hatred with melodies of peace.
This Christmas, you're invited once again to organize your life around Jesus – the Prince of Peace, the one who turns water to wine, makes the lame walk, brings hope to the barren, and causes dead things to live again. In a world that often seems consumed by darkness, violence, and despair, Christ's love shines as an unquenchable light.
As you reflect on the true meaning of Christmas, ask yourself: Have you swapped Jesus for something smaller? Have other priorities crept in, diminishing your focus on Christ? Take time to retrain your eyes, asking God to reveal any areas where you've settled for less than the wholeness He offers.
In this season of Advent, I pray you experience anew the transformative power of Christ's love. Find the courage to leave your comfort zones, embrace your true identity in Him, and become a channel of His light and love to a world in desperate need of wholeness.