On this fourth Sunday in Advent, we meditate on love. Psalm 145:17 in the Message version says that ‘the trademark of all (God’s) works is love.’
A trademark is a unique sign (a word, logo, symbol or name) that identifies a company’s products or services from competitors, protecting brand identity. One of my family’s favourite board games is the Logo Game, when our knowledge of companies’ logos or trademarks is tested.
The defining attribute of God is love (1 John 4:4). All He does is motivated by love, a love explained in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. God’s love is described in the Bible in different ways:
– as unconditional (Rom 5:8)
– as unfailing (Ex 15:13, Ps 6:4, Ps 13:5, Ps 26:3)
– as unchanging (James 1:17)
– as vast and immeasurable (Eph 3:19-20)
– as faithful (Lam 3:22-23)
– as compassionate (Ps 86:15)
– as ever-present (Is 43:2-3)
– as eternal or everlasting (Is 54:10, Eph 1:4-5, Jer 31:3)
– as limitless (Eph 3:19, Rom 8:38-39)
– as inclusive (for the whole world, John 3:16)
– as personal (Gal 2:20)
– as gracious (Neh 9:17)
At Christmas, we celebrate God’s love in sending HIs Son, Jesus to save us from sin and separation from God. We see His love embodied in human form and dimly begin to realise that God’s love is not only real but is present for us. A gift to unwrap.
Most of us will have the joy of unwrapping gifts at Christmas, tokens of other people’s love for us. Don’t spend another Christmas without unwrapping God’s gift to you., the wonderful gift of His Son, Jesus Christ. (2 Cor 9:15)
