Christmas: God Loved The World

For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will 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. (John 3:16–17 CSB)

Christmas, when I lived with my parents, was rich with tradition. The story of Jesus’ birth, stockings hung over the fireplace, and Dad looking for Santa Claus before we came into the room. I remember being home on leave from the Navy and Dad still looking to make sure Santa Claus wasn’t still there.

Traditions provide a vivid backdrop for the holidays.

Yet, in this devotion, I want to wander off the traditional path. For me, the central message of the Bible is, “God so loved the world.” God does not express this message any better than in John 3:16, when He adds, “He gave his one and only Son.”

That is agape love, the God-kind of love. It is a giving love. God gave His absolute best, Jesus, the Lamb Who was slain from the foundation of the world.

Our loving, omniscient God knew Adam would sin before it ever happened. Before the universe even existed, God declared Jesus the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

He knew humanity would need a savior and sent Jesus to earth to live as a human being. At the birth of Jesus, the angels declared to the shepherds in the field, “Today in the city of David a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord.” (Luke 2:11 CSB)

Jesus became our Savior from the moment of His birth. This is the message of Christmas. God, in His great wisdom, knew exactly what humanity needs to be saved from their sin.

Here are some other scriptures about God’s great and amazing love for us:

But God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8 CSB)

For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38–39 CSB)

See what great love the Father has given us that we should be called God’s children. (1 John 3:1 CSB)

I challenge you this Christmas to renew your appreciation for God’s love. He expresses His love personally to you through His gift of Jesus.

Take time this Christmas season to thank God for His gift of Jesus. For God so loved the world, and you, that He gave His one and only Son.

Let’s unabashedly celebrate Jesus this year.

Prayer

Father, I thank you for your great love toward me and all others in the world. Thank you for the precious gift of Jesus as the Savior of all humanity. I am determined to thank you for sharing your love at every opportunity. May everyone whom I encounter walk away only after hearing about your great love. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Additional Scriptures

Deuteronomy 7:9; Psalm 5:12; Psalm 136:26; Isaiah 54:10; Lamentations 3:22-23; Zephaniah 3:17; 1 Corinthians 13:4-7