Why do we celebrate Christmas? Why do we gather around a tree with our family and give each other gifts? Why is it ok for a large man in a red suit to invite children to sit on his lap and no one finds that wrong? Why is it that we tend to fill our churches on Christmas more than on the Sunday after Christmas? This week in our Adventually series we address the idea of love by asking the question why.

One of the most familiar passages in the Bible is John 3:16. It reads For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in him might not perish but have eternal life.

Sounds pretty straight forward right? God loved us and gave us everything even when we don’t deserve anything! Pretty powerful when you actually think about it! But what is your response to this idea? How do you react when you consider the power of what God has done for you?

In an effort to make sure we understand that being saved is 100% God’s work for us, we tend to ignore God’s call to live differently. I know I’m guilty here. We can’t, on our own, decide to follow Jesus. But we are called to believe. It’s like the letters we used to ask someone out back when I was in grade school. You know, I like you. Do you like me? Then we’d have two check boxes. One that said yes and one that said no.

I know it sounds silly! But that’s how many of us did things when we were in grade school. But what if we applied that same principle to our lives as followers of Jesus? What if we saw the work that God did on Christmas and Easter as his letter to us. It’s his way of saying I love you! Then he invites us to follow him. That’s the check yes or no section.

I’m curious. If you take the things God has done for you and the promise he gives you in the Bible, would your life be more likely checking the yes box or the no box?

Listen to this week’s message on Adventaully Love to see how God loves us no matter what our answer is.