In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. - 1 John 4:10 –11 (ESV)

What part of Christmas celebrations are you most looking forward to? Receiving presents? Giving presents? Spending time with family and friends? We all desire to be loved, especially around Christmas time, but we want that love expressed in different ways for it to seem meaningful to us. Some people call this your 'love language'.

Built into Advent is true love. It is love that has been expressed. It has been given not just to those who 'deserve' it or to those who will return it, but has been given to rebels in their rebellion. It's a love that is grander than we can imagine.

Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all, for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. - Acts 20:26 –28 (ESV)

How many churches did you pass in your travel yesterday or today? I bet for most of us we would have a hard time counting or remembering. In some places they seem to be around every corner with different names and stripes of Christianity. That wasn't the case in the early years of Christianity. One city meant one church. It meant one mission - the spread of the gospel and the encouragement of the faith. This week we want to pause and think about our place and our mission in God's greater story.

Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. - 1 Peter 1:8 –9 (ESV)

The angels told the shepherds that their message was 'Good news with great joy.' We throw around the word 'joy' in our decorations and songs of the season, but what is 'joy'? Is it the warm feelings and happiness that we are to find in this season? Does it come from the gifts or celebrations we attend? What happens when the season isn't filled with joy but sadness? How do we find it again?

Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever! Say also: “Save us, O God of our salvation, and gather and deliver us from among the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name and glory in your praise. Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting!” Then all the people said, “Amen!” and praised the LORD. - 1 Chronicles 16:34 –36 (ESV)

As we have been going through the monumental description of salvation in Romans, I have been overwhelmed with what God has done for us. Because of this, gratitude should be a default of every Christian. Remember God has loved us in our rebellion. He has called us to Himself. He has sent Christ. He came and lived a perfect life. He died a sinners death even though He was sinless. Then He justified us by His grace. He made us holy and sanctified. He will glorify us. Because of all of this, let's give thanks!

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” - Luke 2:13 –14 (ESV)

During this season we see the word 'Peace' beautifully adorned cards and pictures. We echo the words of angels as we sing about peace. We watch the peaceful snow-covered scenes in the movies of the season. We fantasize about experiencing those moments in one of the most frantic, busy, stress-filled times of the year. What ever happened to Peace on Earth?

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. - Romans 8:18 –19 (ESV)

One of the biggest obstacles for many when considering Christianity is the pain and suffering that we see around us. Globally we see and read about famines, wars, or worse.  But most of us identify with this painful world in much more personal ways. Our lives seem like a trail of suffering and pain punctuated with only brief, fleeting moments of joy. So when Christians describe God as good and filled with love for us, I can understand the discontinuity this presents.