Author: Bobby Howard
This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you.
John 15:12 NLT
During this season, you can't help but remember the love that came down to earth in the person of Jesus. When I read John 15:12, I'm reminded that this love isn't something we only receive, but it's something we're called to give. Jesus' command is simple, yet deeply challenging: Love each other as I have loved you.
That kind of love isn't casual or a lot of times convenient. It's sacrificial, patient, and selfless. Jesus didn't just tell us about love, He showed it by laying down His life. His love reached into our brokenness, forgave our sins, and welcomed us into a relationship with Him. This is the heart of the season, the love of God taking on flesh to dwell among us.
As I think about this verse during Christmas season, I realize that love is what makes Christmas complete. We may celebrate hope, peace, and joy, but it's love that binds them all together. Without love, our waiting becomes empty and our worship becomes routine. When we embrace the love of Christ, it changes how we see each other. We begin to love not because people deserve it, but because Jesus first loved us.
In a season that can easily become busy and distracted, Jesus words call us back to what matters most. Loving one another with His kind of love. That might look like offering grace to someone who's difficult to love, giving generously to someone in need, or simply slowing down to listen and care. Love is not just a feeling; it's a reflection of God's heart through our actions.
This season lets remember that the greatest gift we can give is love. The kind that looks like Jesus. As we get ready for Christmas, I pray His love fill us so completely that it overflows to those around us.