Christmas: God's Gift of Love

Paraphrase of I Corinthians 13

If I can sing the carols of Christmas like a prima donna or with an angelic voice, but am void of love, I become to those around me nothing more than an arrogant noise.

If I can read the Christmas narrative and know all there is to know about the characters and events of Christmas; or if I say God always answers my prayers, but am void of love, I become to those around me nothing more than a drone with a continuous tone.

If I give the biggest and most expensive gift I can find and even go into debt to buy it, but am void of love, I become to those around me nothing more than a braggart.

I must give the gift of love first to those around me before I do anything else. The gift of love I give must demonstrate great patience and kindheartedness. It must be empty of a jealous, boastful, arrogant spirit. Also it must be void of rudeness and selfish ambition. An angry, grudging, evil spirit will not befit this gift of love.

This gift of love gets excited when truth wins out. It will give protection, cause trust, expend hope, and develop perseverance.

This gift of love comes with a lifetime guarantee; it will never fall apart. Other gifts will come to an end; they will be put on a shelf and be forgotten or sold at the next garage sale.

The temporal must be replaced with the eternal. When I was a child, all I wanted was toys and games and stuff, but as I’ve grown into adulthood, my desires have changed. My desires now have a view to lasting eternal things that give purpose and expression to my existence now and into eternity.

Three gifts that are of lasting quality and come with a blessing-backed guarantee are faith, hope, and love.

The greatest and best gift though, is the gift of love

Pastor Fred Martin
Christmas 1990