Saturday, December 17, 2005
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
LOVE IN THE MANGER
When a mother and father look on their newborn child how often don't they say, "Look at the love God has shown to us!" Surely God reveals a measure of his love for mankind each time a baby is born.
In Bethlehem too God's love was evident in the birth of a Child. The famous Christmas carol "Silent Night! Holy Night!" captures this idea in the third verse when it speaks to the Son of God saying, "Love's pure light radiant beams from Thy holy face." When we peer into the manger and see the Baby Jesus, we can see God's love beaming radiantly from that face. Everything about the Child lying there tells us of God's love.
Looking in on Christmas Eve we are instantly reminded why the Son has been born. He came not to become a doctor, a lawyer, or some other high-paid professional. He came not to make a name for Himself, but to put God's own name upon us. He came not because we were so worth it, but because He was the only one worthy to suffer and die for our sins. He was sent because of the Heavenly Father's great love for you.
Do you ever doubt the love of God? Perhaps you are just "looking for love in all the wrong places," if you'll pardon the expression. Don't look to your own feelings and emotions which can change with the wind, but look to Bethlehem and the manger. See God's love in this that His only begotten Son was sent to be humbled and to die for you. Understand that at Christmas "God so loved the world that He gave . . ."
