The Advent of Love

“But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity." (Micah 5:2)

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

Why Bethlehem? Why a seemingly obscure town to display the greatest measure of love the world has ever known? Bethlehem means “House of Bread” and is the birthplace of the Davidic dynasty. Eprathrah is comparable in today’s culture to the name of the county inclusive of the town (Jacksonville, Calhoun). Here we have a seven-century old prophecy explicitly fulfilled by Christ. At the “House of Bread” the Bread of Life was born into the world!

Micah decrees that this “Ruler in Israel” is “of old, from everlasting.” Though the Messiah’s lineage could be traced back to his royal ancestor (David), his roots go all the way back to eternity. The love displayed in a manger over two-thousand years ago has eternal beginnings and endings. Jesus echoed Micah’s prophecy in John 3:16 by revealing the kind of “love” that carried eternal marks.

“Agape” love is unconditional love that reveals the sacrificial heart of the Savior. And what was God’s motive in the birth of Christ. “For God so loved…” There you have it! God’s love was turned into an act of giving. He gave his very best for a specific reason: “…that all who believes in him would never perish.” WOW! Now that’s LOVE.

God’s deepest desire is to have depraved, sinful man restored to himself. God, out of love for us, became like us, so that we might become like him in eternal heaven. I pray this thought captures your heart and your every thought this holiday season. God loved me so much that he gave his only Son. He gave to me first. He is my role model for giving.

Dr. Derek

Yesterday’s worship was in a word: INCREDIBLE! What a great way to kick off our Christmas offering and our new message series. Our goal this year is the largest in our church’s history: $30,000. I can’t wait to see what God does through his people. Our “Change the World” globes have paid for themselves many times over. Our volunteer counters spent over three hours yesterday counting all the change. Hallelujah!!

To have the Andersons here from Honduras was a special treat. They are our missionaries in Honduras and are on furlough until December 22. All three services were very emotional for us. We wept several times as they shared about delivering all the clothes to over 216 children at the school in Santa Elena. I will never forget two of the experiences Michael and Alba shared with us. I can picture it this morning:

*A mother carries her crippled son three miles to school every day, stays to carry him from classroom to classroom, and then the three mile trip home. I can see the look on her face when her son is given a new wheelchair. I can see the tears streaming down her tired cheeks as emotion swept over her. I can see the look on her child’s face. PRICELESS!!

*A dad receives a ride from Michael and Alba as he goes to the clinic with his baby. When asked if he is a Christian he responds: NO. They stop at the apex of the mountain as Michael and Alba share the good news of Jesus Christ. He prays to receive Christ as his personal Savior in what Michael described for us as a “mountain top experience.” PRICELESS!!

Our Family Friendly Christmas message series and the website designed to support it started off with a bang! As a reminder, go towww.familyfriendlychristmas.org and see all the helpful resources designed to help us keep the miracle of the manger in focus. Invite someone to be with you for worship in the remaining three weeks of the year. Together let’s declare to the world: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased.” (Luke 2: 14)