ReImagine
The decorations are set. The tree is trimmed. Only hours remain for last-minute gift shopping. And there are still a few names on your list!
If you are one of the 32 million “power shoppers” who put off purchasing gifts until the closing days before Christmas, maybe you should keep your credit card in your wallet when it comes to that last minute gift and give something far more rare and precious than anything you might find at the 24-hour Supercenter nearest you.
This Christmas season, why not give something none of us can never have enough of? The gift of generous love.
Christmas is, after all, supposed to be about celebrating God becoming one of us in the most generous act of love the world has ever known. The birth of Christ gave proof of God’s abundant and steadfast love. It’s a gift God is eager to give:
“The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness...”
‘The LORD is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, forgiving iniquity and transgression…”
“But you are a God ready to forgive, gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and did not forsake them.”
“For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you.”
“The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.”
“Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!”
The Gift that Keeps on Giving
And now God, because of His own steadfast love, calls us to show abundant love to one another:
“Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.”
“Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ…”
“And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”
“And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.”
“And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you…”
So before you rush out to grab yet another gadget that may never get used, consider ways to simply share the gift of generous love this Christmas season.
Think of a way to lavish love on someone. Show patience. Forgive someone who doesn’t deserve it. Speak up to someone heading down a destructive path. Shut up and listen to someone you might otherwise have ignored. Or just love that someone who’s driving you crazy this holiday season.
Just make sure the credit for the gift goes to the One who modeled generous love and empowered you to show it to others.
Want to explore more of what Loving Generously looks like? Visit Reimagine Generosity.com to see how you and your church might reawaken what it means to love one another as Christ has loved you.
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