Christmas Love!

The Christmas season reminds us of the great love that God has for us. It is through the incarnation -- God taking on human form to come and dwell among us that we truly begin to grasp what love is all about.
In 1 John 4:8-11, we find a description of God’s love for us. “God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”
1. God’s character is defined by His LOVE
In 1 John 4:7-8, John tells us that we should love one another because love is from God and that those who know God will love one another. John goes on to say that those who don’t love really don’t know God. At the end of verse 8 we are given the reason. We are told in 1 John 4:8 (ESV), “Because God is love.”

When John tells us that God is love, He isn’t saying that God merely projects a friendly attitude toward us. He is saying that love is the essence of who God is. 
2. God’s love is displayed in His SON
1 John 4:9 (ESV) – “In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him.” 

Think about what John says here in this one verse.
(1) God “sent” – the word describes one who is sent on a mission, as a representative of another. The perfect tense emphasizes the permanent consequences of this act.
(2) The purpose: is that “we might live through him.” The verb “live” implies that those to whom the Son was sent were in a condition of spiritual death, and His mission was to impart life to them.
(3) This life only occurs through Christ. There aren't many ways to experience life, or even a couple of ways. There is only one way to truly experience life and that is through Jesus (John 14:6).
3. God’s love is demonstrated in the ATONEMENT
1 John 4:10 (ESV) – “In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”
True love is not about words, but actions. God not only displayed His love for us by sending His only Son so that we might live through Him. He demonstrated His love for us by sending His Son to die for our sins.
Hundreds of years before Jesus came to earth, the prophet Isaiah foresaw Jesus atoning sacrifice for us.
Isaiah 53:4–6 (ESV) – “Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.”The origin of love lies beyond human effort and initiative. Left to ourselves we would not love Him, we would not seek Him. We would hate Him and oppose Him. 
It was Him reaching out to us in sacrificial love that broke our hearts of stone and drew us to Himself.
4. Our response to God’s love is to LOVE ONE ANOTHER
1 John 4:11 (ESV) – “Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”
Once we truly understand the great price that has been paid for our sin and the depth of God’s love for us, we are driven to love one another.
It is important for us not to miss this truth. Although John is speaking primarily to the love that we are to show within the Christian fellowship, his point goes far beyond the church and extends out into the world. We are to love our neighbor as we love ourselves (Luke 10:25-37).

So how do we apply these truths during the Christmas season?

1) Have you personally experienced the love of God in your life?
2) What are some ways that we can love others within the fellowship of believers?

• Be forgiving. The Bible tells us in 1 Peter 4:8 (ESV) – “Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.” 
• Be patient with one another
• Pray for one another
• Bear one another’s burdens

3) How can we share the love of Jesus during this Christmas season?

• Smile and wish others a Merry Christmas
• Be patient with store clerks
• Pray for opportunities to share the love of Christ with others
• Be a courteous and good tipper at restaurants. It’s a sad statement that Christians have a horrible reputation with most servers in restaurants.

Christmas Peace!

In Luke 2, we find Mary and Joseph traveling to Bethlehem because of the census that Caesar Augustus had declared. After what must have been a very difficult journey, they finally arrive to find that there is no room in the inn. Mary gives birth to the promised Messiah and He is placed in a manger.
At this same time there are a group of shepherds caring for their sheep out in the fields, when the angel of the Lord appears to them and tells them that in Bethlehem a Savior has been born.
And then we are told in Luke 2:13–14 (ESV), "And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, ¹⁴ 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!'”
As we look back at the Christmas story, I want us to think about the peace that the Messiah has provided for us.
1. He has brought us peace with God
The Bible teaches that in our natural state we are enemies of God and that we are without hope. But Jesus came so that our sins could be forgiven and that we could be reconciled back to God. 

Ephesians 2:12–14 (ESV) -- "Remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. ¹³ But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. ¹⁴ For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility."

As we reflect back to the first coming of our Lord as a babe in Bethlehem let us be reminded of the peace that he brought to us and let us look forward to our real home -- Heaven!

2. He has brought us peace within ourselves
One philosopher had called our era "an age of overt anxiety." It seems that everyone is worried about something. We are worried about . . .

• Our past failures
• Our unfulfilled expectations
• Our financial problems
• Our children
• Our health issues

You name it and there is someone who is worried about it.

For the follower of Christ, instead of worrying about things that we have no control over, we are to trust in God. The Bible tells us is in Isaiah 26:3 (ESV), "You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you."

So how are we to do this? The apostle Paul tells us in Philippians 4:6–7 (ESV), "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
Instead of worrying about things for which we have no control, let us take our requests to God with thanksgiving knowing that He cares for us (1 Peter 5:7).
3. He has brought us peace with others
It is God's desire that we live in peace with one another (Romans 12:18). It is a testimony to the world that we are truly His followers if we love one another (John 13:35). 
In the Old Testament we find King David expressing the same kind idea in Psalm 34:14 (ESV) -- "Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it."

There is Hope!

When we look at the events of our day it is easy to become discouraged and to lose all sense of hope. We read of ministers who have blown the trust of those they are supposed to lead by choosing to fulfill the desires of the flesh instead of following the will of God. We read of political leaders who are willing to sell out their constituents for power and personal gain. We read of parents who have abused their sacred trust by abusing the children that God has blessed them with. The list could go on and on. 

But it is the Christmas story that reminds us that in the midst of the darkness we have an abiding hope. The Bible tells us in Luke 1:26–38 (ESV) -- "In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, ²⁷ to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. ²⁸ And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” ²⁹ But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. ³⁰ And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. ³¹ And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. ³² He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, ³³ and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” ³⁴ And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” ³⁵ And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. ³⁶ And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. ³⁷ For nothing will be impossible with God.” ³⁸ And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her."

Gabriel comes to Mary and proposes to her that an impossible thing is about to happen, a virgin will conceive and bear a son. What a hopeless situation! An impossible scenario to say the least! And yet, it is into this hopeless situation that we read that nothing is impossible with God.

Regardless of the failures of those that surround us, our hope is not found in people or in our circumstances. Our hope is found in the God who does the impossible. 

So when we hear of doom and gloom and the circumstances of our lives seem to be out of control, let us . . .

1. Stand firm in your faith
2. Stop worrying about things that you cannot control
3. Start proclaiming the goodness of God

A Note from Mrs. Mary Watson

I was going through my desk this morning and I find a note from a dear friend, Mary Watson. Mrs. Mary was full of wisdom and she always had a quote that she wanted to share with me. I'm not sure exactly when she gave it to me, but I know it was during a time when I was struggling in a relationship with a dear friend. 

The poem was written by Joaquin Miller.

Men Whom Men Condemn Ill

"In men whom men

condemn as ill

I see so much of goodness still.

In men whom men pronounce divine

I see so much of sin and blot

I hesitate to draw

a line between the two where

God has not"

As I thought about Mrs. Mary I was reminded of a picture that we took several years ago. I sure miss this dear friend and I look forward to seeing her again in heaven.

Why is Advent important?

I was raised in a Southern Baptist Church in Northeast Louisiana and I don't ever remember hearing the word Advent until I was an adult. When I finally heard the word I thought it was just a churchy word to describe the Christmas season. Years later I was visiting FBC West Monroe and they were celebrating the Advent in their worship service. This began me on a search to try and understand what is Advent and why is it important? This is the basics of what I discovered.

1. When is Advent? Advent is the season in the Christian year that lasts approximately four weeks. It begins four Sundays before Christmas and it ends on Christmas Eve.
2. What is Advent? The word "Advent" comes from the Latin word adventus, which means "coming" or "visit." For the church it is a time for us to remember the longing that the Jews had for the coming of the Messiah and for us to long for and be prepared for Jesus' return.
3. Why is it important? Over and over again we find Jesus telling us that His return will come at an unexpected time and that we are to be on guard and we are to be ready (Luke 12:40; Matthew 25:14-30). I believe that Advent is a perfect opportunity for us to celebrate the first coming of our Messiah, while refocusing our attention on being prepared for His final coming. 

The world is in desperate need of the church to live out the truth that our Savior is coming again! This will enable us to hold the things of this world loosely, knowing that this is not our home. It will help us focus our time, energy, talents, and possessions to be about the work of fulfilling the commission that we were given to make disciples of all nations!