Love Came Down at Christmas

"The Adoration of the Shepherds"

Gerard van Honthorst

1622

With so many negative stories in the news (and when are there not such stories in the spin cycle?) it is easy to have that negativity infect us. Especially in times of great cultural shifts, some of us, particularly as Christians, understandably feel a need to take a stand. Often we find ourselves stating, even with a certain shrillness, what we are against. Perhaps that is necessary at times.

However, often it is easy to forget that the Christian faith is overwhelmingly about a great and positive good: the good news of God's love for all human beings expressed through Jesus Christ, who was born at Bethlehem, lived every day of his life to demonstrate God's love for all, gave up his life on Calvary because of that love, and rose again from the dead because the power of God's love and God's life can never truly be defeated.

To me, this is all so well expressed in the poem written by Christina Rossetti, first published in 1885, and later set to music as a Christmas carol....

Love came down at Christmas,
Love all lovely, Love Divine,
Love was born at Christmas,
Star and Angels gave the sign.

Worship we the Godhead,
Love Incarnate, Love Divine,
Worship we our Jesus,
But wherewith for sacred sign?

Love shall be our token,
Love shall be yours and love be mine,
Love to God and all men,

Love for plea and gift and sign.

Often such love does not "make the news" in a human sense, because it usually makes itself known in a quiet and non-sensational manner. As another carol expresses it: "How silently, how silently, the wondrous gift is given." Nonetheless, God's love really is the greatest story ever told ... always has been ... always will be.

When we receive that love into our hearts and lives, I believe it really does make all the difference, for it is a love that cannot be contained. It is a love that must be expressed. It is a love that is destined to change the world ... one life at a time.

I hope and pray that you, my reader, will receive that love into your heart this Christmas, either for the first time, or for the one hundredth time. God's love is certainly the greatest Christmas present that any of us will ever receive. And I have a sneaking suspicion that God just can't wait for us to unwrap his wondrous gift.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life." John 3:16 (New Revised Standard Version)

Merry Christmas!

Comments

Unknown said…

Thanks Will. Yessss... Love Divine, all Loves excelling,Joy of Heaven to Earth come down,Fix in us thy humble Dwelling,All thy faithful Mercies crown; A JOYFUL Christmas to you and yours. Patsy

8:34 PM

Will Vaus said…

Another good hymn about the love of God. Amen.

10:36 PM

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