The Season of Love

I call the Christmas Season “The Seasons of Love” because "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son," and "The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us" (John 3:16; 1:14).

We all love this time of year, but perhaps for different reasons.  Some love to buy gifts and presents for family and friends.  Still others, like my brother in Christ John, love the cold and crispness in the air anticipating and even praying for the first snow fall during the holiday season.  Many people love the spirit of Christmas that abounds in the air beginning the day after Thanksgiving lasting all the way till January 2nd.  Multitudes enjoy the feasting, fellowship, worship, and the wonderful Christmas music that this time of year brings.
                            
Do you fit in among those reasons I listed above? Or maybe you have another reason why you love this time of the year.   As for me, during this "season of love," lately I have felt myself becoming more conscious of others, their needs, their hurts, fears, and joys.  Two overriding questions are, "do they have the love of Christ dwelling in them" and "do I show the love of Christ to others?"  These thoughts should drive us to our knees in prayer and we meditate on the answers.  We don't have to buy expensive gifts to make others love us.  We don't have to go out of our way to have an expensive Christmas, trying to outshine the 'Jones's.'  We only need to show love among our fellow men, the same way our God showed us love so many years ago sending His Son into the world that we might be saved.

This Christmas season in which we celebrate the birth of Jesus, let us keep our minds stayed on the “reason for the season” and the love that shines forth from God's dear Son.  Let us be more like Him to be able to love without attachments, requirements, and let our light so shine that people will see the love of God shining in our lives every day.  Remember to thank God for sending His Son to earth to rescue the lost, to love the worst of us, never condemning, but showing us the way through love and you will experience a Merry Christmas. May God bless you all with His amazing love!  

The chorus of a hymn called "And Can It Be" speaks about this amazing love.  "Amazing love! How can it be that Thou, my God, should die for me! Amazing love! How can it be that Thou, my God, should die for me!"

Because of His amazing love,

- Diana Carroll, ​Senior Pastor's Wife, Sharon Baptist Church