Advent 2: Love
Have you finished your Christmas shopping yet? Have you chosen gifts and cards to give to family and friends? Have you chosen some festive food to fill your cupboard and maybe a treat or two? We are never short of choice when it comes to buying things are we?!
The message of Advent and Jesus’ coming, the reason we celebrate, all come down to one thing really – the reason we give and receive presents, make special efforts to others and go the extra mile and make long journeys to be with family and friends, it all boils down to one thing – love. Expressing our love, demonstrating our love, sharing love, proclaiming love. It’s all about love.
And of course, love is not just a choice we make today, or at certain times of year. Love is a choice each and every day, as we follow the example of Jesus and try and live our lives to make Him known to others. When we seek to make Jesus known, to promote Him rather than ourselves, we make a choice to love. And sometimes we get it wrong. And when we do, God’s love lifts us up again, and draws us to Himself. He dusts us off, and puts our feet on solid ground again, when we can stand, and sing a song of love to the One who forgives, redeems and restores.
God chose love – He chose us, and the greatest gift we can give to Him in return is our heart – to love Him and love others in the very best way that we can.
May our lives make God’s love known, today and every day. And when it’s hard, may we be assured that we are held in a love stronger than anything we could ever fully know; A love is freely given, wrapped in human flesh. God chose love; He chose us. May we choose Him and choose to love like Him today and every day.
What can I give Him, poor as I am?
If I were a Shepherd, I would bring a lamb.
If I were a wise man, I would do my part,
Yet, what can I give Him? Give my heart. (In the bleak midwinter, Verse 4)
