Advent: choose love...

 

“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.” (John 3:16)

 

The fourth candle is the light of love. Jesus coming to earth, as a baby in a manger and the Saviour of the world, is God’s greatest gift of love to us. This is God’s redeeming love, which brings forgiveness, restoration and reconciliation. What a gift! A gift that lasts forever. The utter magnitude of His love for me is unfathomable and beyond amazing. 

 

LOVE.

 

Love is more than a feeling. Love requires action. Love requires taking risks. To love is not always easy. It involves a choice and it is often a choice we need to make over and over again. Let’s face it: some people are easy to love, others not so much. Yet Jesus asks us to love everyone! 

 

“Jesus replied:‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’” (Matthew 22:33-39) Jesus teaches us to love God with our whole being. He also teaches us to love each other. Family. Friends. Neighbours. Enemies. Strangers. The hungry. The prisoners. The thirsty. To love our neighbours as ourselves. 

 

What does love look like? One of my favourite passages on love is found in 1 Corinthians. We are given such a beautiful image of what love should look like. “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” (1 Corinthians 13:4-8a)

 

What an incredible picture of love. Who doesn’t want to be loved like that? God’s love for us IS that perfect! And although our love for others will never be this perfect, we can ask God to help us love others, aspiring this wholesome love. 

 

How can we show love to others? Jesus shares what love as an act of service looks like in Matthew 25. Feed the hungry. Provide shelter to the homeless. Give those who are thirsty a drink. Clothe the naked. Visit the prisoners. Meet with the sick. There are many ways we can show love to those around us. Love in action. However, this passage is one that has continuously challenged me. We are commanded, not just advised, to help those in need or we will face eternal consequences. Jesus’ message is straightforward but putting this into practice all the time is not an easy task, especially when faced with people in need every single day. I have a lot to learn when it comes to loving others. 

 

This advent, reflect on God’s incredible love for you, love God with your whole being and love those around you as best as you can. Love is essential. Especially in this difficult season, in the midst of the COVID19 pandemic, be mindful of people who may be lonely or in need. Share some love with those around you this advent season.

 

Choose love.

 

O Come Emmanuel.