Infinite Love

God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. John 3:17

In Jesus’ time people were waiting for the Messiah, but they had certain expectations of who the Messiah would be or look like. The images that people had of a Messiah were a mighty king, a powerful leader and perhaps a revolutionary! But God’s plans defy human expectations.

While Jesus was a great king, leader, and championed love, he wasn’t what people expected or defined. Rather than being born in a palace, surrounded by wealth, this mighty king was born in a stable, surrounded by animals. Rather than being the son of influential people or social elites, this powerful leader was born in a stable to a humble couple from a small town of Nazareth.

God shatters our expectations to show us his unlimited and unbounded love. Jesus Christ entered our world in a lowly way – a manger in order to raise up the lowly. 

You’d think that since we know this story that we would adjust our expectations, but God continues to defy them, and Jesus continues to appear in unexpected places and ways in our lives. He loves that man begging for money on the corner or that woman seeking help for her children and also loves that person who is sitting across from you or walking beside you.

Christmas is a time of God showing His great love for us. It can be a time of healing and renewed strength. Let’s enjoy the season but remember to rejoice in God’s unending love! After all, the true meaning of Christmas is the celebration of God's ultimate gift: the birth of Jesus, God’s Son, our Savior!

Lord Jesus, teach me be rooted and established in your love to enable me grasp “how wide and long, how high and deep the love of Christ is”. Amen 

Reflection: What is one way you can let God’s love flow from you today?