Love Christmas
by Malcolm Wood
A garden centre near us is currently enticing would-be customers into their store with a seasonal display at their entrance, which includes imitation frost on the grass, hedges and bushes, alongside two large signboards with the words ‘Love Christmas’.
As Christians, whatever one’s view of when, or how, the coming of Christ into this world should be acknowledged, it is, I believe, an event that warrants celebrating. When we stop to think about it, it’s remarkable indeed that God, the Holy One, in the form of His Son Jesus, should come into the world as a human being. The Bible makes it quite clear that God’s motivation for doing this was love. In a verse, familiar to so many, it affirms that ‘God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son’ (John 3:16).
Love is God’s very nature, for ‘God is love’(1 John 4:8). And Jesus came to demonstrate love in a practical way, as He helped and healed so many of those He met, while here on earth. This amazing love for all was ultimately so powerfully demonstrated by His dying on the cross at Calvary.
Yes, love is the very essence of what we know as the Christmas period, not the love of the season or the shopping, or the festivities, (as the signs at our garden centre would tend to imply), but the love of God. When, or however, we choose to celebrate the coming of Jesus into the world as God’s gift, Saviour for all those who will accept Him, may we all experience a fresh awareness and a deeper appreciation of His love.
As the world, for whatever reasons, loves or hates Christmas, let those of us, who’ve been touched by a personal experience of God’s love in our own lives, take every opportunity we can, in these challenging days, to share with others something of the love of God. ‘Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other’ (1 John 4:11).
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 to all men,
Love for plea and gift and sign.
(Christina Rossetti 1830-1894)
Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for loving me so much. Please help me to share Your love with others, not just at Christmas, but throughout the year. Amen.
Malcolm Wood and his wife Anna became part of the Ellel family as House Managers at Ellel Grange in 1990. Since then they have been involved with many aspects of the developing Ministry. From 2001 until 2015 they were Directors of Ellel Scotland where they hosted several International Schools and Operation Blairmore and helped pioneer the exciting Creative Inspiration Weeks. They have three sons.
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