His Own Love Toward Us

"But God demonstrates His own love toward us, 

in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

Romans 5:8

There is a truth from this verse that I have been meditating on over the last several days - biblical love is action based, not feelings driven based on attraction.

It is also the will moving to meet a specific need.  In the action, self is laid aside and the one being loved is put first. 

It is the Christmas season and we are celebrating the birth of Jesus.  We wouldn't be celebrating Christmas if it weren't for the love that Jesus had for us.  The actions of His love began in eternity past.  He wrote our names down in the book of life and agreed with the Father that He would come and die for the people written in the book, because He knew they would fall into sin and need rescuing.

Two thousand years ago - Jesus came, continuing with His actions of love.  John MacArthur writes regarding Jesus birth in his book, "The Miracle of Christmas", "Here's a side to the Christmas story that isn't often told.  Those soft little hands, fashioned by the Holy Spirit in Mary's womb, were made so that nails might be driven through them.  Those baby feet, pink and unable to walk, would one day walk up a dusty hill to be nailed to a cross.  That sweet infant's head with sparkling eyes and eager mouth was formed so that someday men might force a crown of thorns onto it.  That tender body, warm and soft, wrapped in swaddling clothes, would one day be ripped open by a spear."  

Why?  

Because of love that was action based, not feelings driven based on attraction.  Jesus grew up and walked among men, women, and children - healing them from all kinds of sickness and disease.  He fed them, miraculously.  Compassion did move Jesus to action.  God is love and Jesus being God in the flesh, lived a life of action, meeting need after need after need, giving of Himself, time and time again. The greatness of His love culminated at the cross.  There was no greater love in history, than at that moment.  It was not feelings driven.  There is nothing lovely and attractive about sinners.  It was based out of our need and Jesus desire to please His Heavenly Father.  

And this is how we are called to love.  Love that is feelings driven will never last because feelings come and go.  God demonstrated for us how we are to love.  It is the choice to lay ourselves aside and meet the needs of another.  God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit.  We are empowered to love in the same way Jesus loved.  And the wonderful thing, we are created that when we love in such a way, great joy is produced from our choice to be like our Savior.  When we consistently choose biblical love, the feelings just follow.