The Love at Christmas

I saw the love at Christmas time --
it was wrapped so pretty and neat,
or it was spoken in words in Christmas cards
that sounded so nice and sweet.
Why does it come on just one day,
and why must it be bought?
Remember, it's not the gift you buy,
but it's the love that's in the thought.
Still, why only on the 25th,
and only the month of December,
or only on someone's birthday
if we happen to remember?
What about the other days of the year?
Why can't love be spoken then?
Why are feelings kept silent and never shown
until Christmas comes again?
Sure, Christmas celebrates the birthday of Christ
and only comes once a year,
but shouldn't we show the love every day?
Isn't that the reason Christ came here?

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son...." -John 3:16

From January 12, 1982

Love

Even if I could speak all languages--
those of angels, as well as men--
I would just be making noise
unless I had love within.
And if I could tell the future
and know all there is to know
and had all the faith in the world,
so that just believing would make it so,
I still would be worthless without love;
even if I gave my all to the poor,
or if I sacrificed my life, without love,
I would have nothing and nothing more.

Love is long-suffering and kind.
It does not envy and is not vain.
It does not act unseemly
or for its own pleasure or gain.
Love doesn't get angry easily
and doesn't have evil thoughts;
it isn't glad to see evil done.
It is glad when the truth is taught.

Love holds up under intense pressure,
believes, hopes, and endures to the end.
It never fails, unlike the prophecies
or the languages, or the knowledge of men.

For we don't know all there is to know
and can't foretell all that is to be,
but when that which is perfect has come about,
the partial will cease to be.
When I was a child, I talked like a child;
I thought and understood as a child understands,
but I put away those child-like things,
when I became a man.
For now we don't see things clearly,
but later we'll be shown;
the things I don't know right, I will know,
even as also I am known.
But now these things abide--
faith, hope, and love -- all three,
but far above the other two,
love is the greatest of these.
- 1 Corinthians 13

From September 10, 1985

Love: God's definition

Love. It's a word that has many shades of meaning in our society; we use it in reference to our spouses, our friends, our Lord, and our favorite candy bar! We talk about it as though it were a location -- to be "in love." We refer to it as something tangible -- to "find love." We speak of it as a condition -- to "feel love." We even insinuate that it is something accidental that we "fall in and out of." And yet God's Word most often refers to love as an action -- something that we are commanded to do and choose to do, rather than a feeling that comes over us or something we find ourselves in.

We are to love our enemies. Matthew 3:44
We are to love our neighbors. Matthew 22:39
We are to love our spouses. Ephesians 5:25
We are to love our children. Titus 2:4
We are to love the Lord. Mark 12:30
We are to love fellow Christians. 1 Peter 2:17

According to these verses, love is expressed through prayer, service, selflessness and sacrifice. We don't have to wait for love to "happen" to us. We can choose to love.