Sermon snippet – Love at Christmas
INTRODUCTION – Yes, I know that the title sounds like a movie from the hallmark channel. However, real love was an integral part of the first Christmas. The events surrounding the birth of God the Son, Jesus Christ, show us crucial characteristics of genuine love.
- LOVE DEMONSTRATES LOYALTY
The account of Zecharias and Elisabeth, the parents of John the Baptist, is undergirded with a powerful love. Luke 1:5-25 provides enough background to give us an understanding of the strength of their relationship. As a childless wife, Elisabeth was looked down upon by many in her society. In fact, the religious leaders taught that Zecharias would have been justified in divorcing her. Instead, the two stayed together over many years (verses 7 and 18). Their loyalty to each other is indicated by their refusal to side with their corrupt culture and cynical sacerdotal superiors. They loved each other, were committed to each other, and prayed for each other (verse 13). At the core of this lovely and loving relationship was a deep love for God that made no room for bitterness. Note the heartfelt responses of verses 25 and 64. This couple’s understanding of God’s loyal love to them was the foundation of their shared loyalty. Let our love likewise be loyal.
- LOVE SEEKS THE BEST FOR OTHERS
I Corinthians 13:5 tells us that love “seeketh not her own.” Matthew 1:18-25 records the struggle – the understandable struggle – of Joseph. He was baffled by his fiancee’s seeming infidelity, but he was determined to do the best that he could for her (verse 19), for he loved her. This good, heartbroken man then found that God had something even better in mind for him, Mary, and all mankind. The crux of Christmas is God seeking the best for us. Yes, God the Son came to us to deliver us from our sins and provide life forever (verse 21). The best – God Himself – ever seeks the best for us. May our love actively seek to benefit others.
CONCLUSION – We can easily contrast the love of God with the hatred of the world (exemplified by Herod at the news of the birth of the Savior – see Matthew 2:1-18). Moreover, His love does something that not even the strongest of ours can accomplish – eternal salvation. This simple good news is found in the familiar words of John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His Only Begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Whosoever – why, that means me!… and it means you, too! Trust in Jesus right now, and enter into this love of God, this love that saves.