Advent Day 22: The Love of Advent

Good morning, friends, on this fourth Sunday of Advent!

The first three weeks of Advent, we were blessed to ponder the gifts of hope, peace, and joy. Today, as I begin pondering the gift of love for the fourth and final week of Advent 2014, Christina Rossetti's words are ministering to my heart:

"Love came down at Christmas

Love all lovely, love divine

Love was born at Christmas

Star and angels gave the sign.

Worship we the Godhead

Love incarnate, love divine

Worship we our Jesus

But wherewith for sacred sign?

Love shall be our token

Love shall be yours and love be mine

Love to God and to all men

Love for plea and gift and sign."

Love descended from above to earth in the person of Jesus, the Savior who is more precious than silver, more costly than gold, more beautiful than diamonds--He is the sign worthy to follow! Love took on flesh in the Son of God turned Son of Man so that the sons and daughters of men can turn into children of God--He is the deity worthy of worship! Love became the precious token that human hearts desire, crave, and seek--He is the prize worthy to pursue!

The love of Advent reveals the beauty, the grace, and the identifying feature of the gospel--"By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another" (John 13:35, NIV). And love, this jewel of a promise, is not identified by warm sentiments and goose bumps but by obedience to God's commands. Therefore, our obedience to God's precepts . . .

"The whole law is summed up in a single command: 

'Love your neighbor as yourself' (Galatians 5:14, NIV)."

                                                                                                  . . . is a gracious opportunity to agree with God, to defer to Him, and to serve His children.

"Truly He taught us to love one another,

His law is love and His gospel is peace.

Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother

And in His name all oppression shall cease."

The Coming One makes it clear that loving means denying the self, sacrificing for the benefit of others, and giving to the point of death in order that new growth (or, rather, new life) can sprout and blossom. Paul echoes Christ's message in 1 Corinthians 15:36, "When you put a seed into the ground, it doesn't grow into a plant unless it dies first" (NLT). Dying to the self and obedience to the law of grace bring about much growth in us and in those around us. When we indulge the flesh, give full vent to our anger, and belittle our neighbors, neither they nor we grow closer to love. However, when we choose to allow God's Spirit to render us patient, truthful, considerate, and gracious, we are better equipped to influence others positively.

No one exhibits that kind of sacrificial love like the Coming One. The promised Messiah is the One and only who gave and gives and will continually give Himself up for the healing of a decaying world. Called to imitate Him, Advent reminds us that we have been given the invitation and the power through His grace to administer the healing balm of Christ's Agape love to a world that is ever moving toward its demise.

Indeed, may we gratefully receive His gift of love today!