For me, the most profound statement in the entire Christmas story is made by the angels in proclaiming Jesus’ birth to the shepherds in Luke 2:11, “For today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”

For YOU is born a Savior.  For YOU.  And why did he come to earth?  “For God so LOVED the world that He gave his one and only Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.”

This whole crazy, improbable, unimaginable plan is because of Love.  God loves us so much, He did the unthinkable.  Jesus loves us so much He gave up heaven to become an embryo who would be born in a barn stall to poor parents.  He loves us so much that he chanced childhood, accepted adolescence, tolerated his twenties, and was executed in his early thirties.  He loves us so much that he died in my place and in yours so that our death might be temporary.  He loves us enough give us life, eternal life.

You see, not only does Love change our priorities, but Love isn’t Love until it is demonstrated.

God demonstrated His Love for us by sending Jesus for us, even when we were still His enemies and living in our sin.  As is usually the case, when we experience such an attribute from our God, we are then compelled to express that same attribute toward others.

In the gospel of John, Jesus says that our love for one another will be the defining attribute by which others will know we are His disciples.  John’s letter to a church entitled 1 John is full of truth about how we are supposed to live out the Love of God if we truly know God.

1.  Have you accepted the Love of God in the person of Jesus? 

2.  What priorities do you need to allow Love to change?   

The entire law and prophets are summed up with “Love God, Love Neighbor”

Is Love a priority at all in your life?

When you consider on your own or discuss with your spouse decisions about how you will spend your time, your money, your attention, or your service is Love setting the agenda?  Does Love have the run of the house?

3.  How can you demonstrate Love to others?   

Words of affirmation ~ sometimes we just need to say it. 

Quality time ~ How much time and what kind of time to you spend? 

Acts of service ~ meals, yardwork, cleaning a house, babysitting (free), fixing a car . . . 

Physical Touch ~ an appropriate hug or arm around a friend. 

Gifts ~ they don’t have to cost a lot, they can even be homemade.  Are the gifts you’ll give this Christmas signs of consumerism and greed or are they demonstrations of Love?

Today, this week, next weekend as you celebrate Christmas, and beyond, let Love have the run of the house, and find ways to demonstrate it to those around you.