Steven A. Bush - December 20, 2015
Advent and Charity
When the old KJV uses the word Charity, it's talking about Love (Agape)--selfless, unconditional, action-oriented, Love. 1 Corinthians 13 is the love chapter and we hear it read more at weddings than we do at Christmas. So where do those verses mention Mary and Joseph, angels and shepherds, a bright star over top a Bethlehem stable, or Magi presenting gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to a Baby? They don't. So what's the their connection with Christmas? The Christmas connection is Charity--God's deep and steadfast Love coming down to us! John 3:16-18 is the testimony of Christmas: "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because He has not believed in the name of the only Son of God." (ESV) So let's fight our way through the glitter and glitz, the fog and lights, the eggnog and elves, to this: Charity from on High comes to us in the person of Jesus, Emmanuel. Joy to the world! Hark the herald angels sing! Gloria in excelsis Deo! And have a very Merry Christmas!