Crazy Love

John 3:16

“For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

We often hear those words and fail to realize the deep love that God has for each of us. Christ came into our world, where he knew he would be rejected, persecuted and eventually crucified. He chose to come into our world as baby, not because he had to, but because he chose to out of love. The love demonstrated in the manger is not truly understood until we see the love of the cross. As Jesus lay in the manger, the shadow of the cross already was dawning on his life. The love of God would go much deeper than a mere emotion or feeling instead it would be act of complete sacrifice by God himself who was willing to die a cruel death out love for you and me!!!

God’s love for you is unconditional, his love is not based on what you have done, or how good you may or may not be. He looks at our life sees the brokenness, the sin, and the disappointments and chooses to love us anyway! There has never been a greater demonstration of love than the Jesus being born in a manger to die on a cross.

Christ was willing to lay down his life for us! He was willing to leave the splendors and comforts of heaven and take on the form of a helpless baby, dependent upon the very people he had created. He was willing to sacrifice his Divine rights as God for the mortality of the human race which would eventually torture and kill him. Why? No other reason than love!!!

The Apostle John wrote in John 15:12-13 “this is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you.  There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. Jesus’ love for us was so great that he was willing to lay down his life for us.”

Christ made the ultimate sacrifice of love for us!

Not only has God loved us, but we have the opportunity to share that love with other people. The world around us is hurting and broken and we have the opportunity to share God’s love with people who have never experienced this type of love. May you receive that love this Christmas and may you in turn give the gift of love to others!