How could God love me so much?

Really, how could He love us so much?

It is coming very close to Christmas and I have been hearing a lot about the Christmas story. I have heard it all my life but never in the perspective that I have been hearing it lately. You all know the story too I'm sure. Jesus was born to a virgin in a manger etc. etc.... but there is more to it. More meaning than just the birth of Jesus. There is significance to the story that I have never heard about, or rather, it was never the focus of the story so I never got it. So here is what I have learned recently, and the revelation is life changing.

Luke 2:8-11 (NIV) (Bold-ing added by me for emphasis)

8And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord.

So can you get what I'm emphasizing here? Two things this year have been pointed out for me that I never really focused on before and I made the text of those things bold. The first thing is that Jesus was born for us, not as a friend, not as our "homeboy", not as a dictator, or as ruler, but as a SAVIOR. He was born to save us. The other thing is that He was sent for good news for ALL people. Not just a few or chosen people, but for everyone. Everyone who comes to know Him will be saved AND it is the heart of God that everyone come to know Him. I don't know about you but I think that is pretty profound.

Something else I have learned through the talks about the Christmas story:

Luke 2:13-14 (NIV)

13Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

So we know that God did this amazing thing for ALL people, He sent Jesus, His only son, as our Savior. Something to take from this is also that God does not do things because of our behavior, he sent us a Savior despite of us. We can always be better but God loves us regardless. When we make the relationship with God about our behavior we make the relationship about us and not about God. We need to make it about God because get this,

Glory to God = Peace on earth.

Do you see it? This is what the Christmas story says. If we realize that God loves us so much that regardless of what we've done he still sent us a Savior and we make the relationship about God we give Him the glory He deserves. If we don't give the glory to God we miss the peace that comes with that. When we give the glory to Him there is peace in our hearts. The peace is available to ALL people because God's favor is for everyone.

I don't know about you but I think that it is so amazing that God loves me so much. I don't understand it but I am thankful for it and I accept it as graciously as I can. :)

I give thanks every day for the love of God. For everything that He provides. All I have is because of the Lord's mercy and love. Regardless of my circumstances, regardless of what I have done or do, I am thankful and full of joy and peace because I know I am loved by God. I know I can rest in that peace forever.

These are some "peaceful" words...

By Nicole