A Week of Christmas, Day 4: Christ Came to Love

John 3:16.. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."

Phillipians 2:6-7.. "Christ Jesus...who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men."

There are two great ways in which we can see the love of God in this great Christmas season. Firstly, we can see the love of God the Father in the sending of his son. Secondly, we can see the love of God the son in the "lowliness" of his coming.

The first one is obvious. John 3:16 points it out for us so clearly, as through this verse we can see that God so loved the world that he gave the world his Son. Not only did God the Father give his Son in the sense that he went from heaven to earth, but he even gave of his Son to die on a cross. For what greater love is this? God the Father gave up his only Son because of the great love he had for us. He gave him up to be here with us, apart from heaven, and he gave him up to die for us, apart from his presence for even a small moment in eternity.

The second picture of God's love in the Christmas season is less obvious, but just as important. God the Son loved his people so much that he was willing to come in to earth in the 'likeness of men." We often miss how humbling this is. The King of Kings, the second part of the Trinity, the Creator, the very Christ, humbled himself to be born as a man. Think of all that he had to give up. He had perfection in heaven, yet he gave that up for a short time in all of eternity that he might save his people. He came to dwell with us, even amidst a sinful world, when he could have remained dwelling fully with his Father in heaven apart from any trace of sin. Nevertheless, God loved his people so much that he was born on earth in the likeness of men, even in a lowly manger.

So, have you taken to heart the love of Christ this Christmas season? Have you realized what a picture the Christmas season is of God's love, both in the Father's sending and the Son's coming? Here's the real question: have you loved him in return? God the Father gave of his Son for you, God the Son gave of his great heavenly position for you. What have you given to him?