What if I told you there was someone who knew the worst things about you—all your thoughts, every word you’ve said, every bad thing you’ve done—and yet loved you anyway?
The good news of Christmas is that there is someone like that. God sent this love to us in the gift of his Son, Jesus Christ. When Jesus came to earth, he wasn’t born in a pristine palace. He immediately entered our mess by being born in a dirty animal stall. He came to us not because we were of all people most loveable, but because while we were still sinners, God loved us.
We tend to give gifts to people who love us in return. But God sent the greatest gift of all to people who would hate him, mock him, spit on him, and crucify him. God saw all our messy parts, every shameful secret, every sin we would commit day in and day out, and yet loved us anyway. But Jesus didn’t come to leave us messy. He came to redeem us, cleanse us, and make us holy.
As we light the candle of love, reflect on the love it took to come into our messy world, die for unlovely sinners like you and me, and give us the greatest gift love could give—eternal life to all who repent of their sins and trust in Jesus Christ.
Parker Christian Editing 