Christmas Love: The Story Of God's Gift To Us Series

You were specially created – hand crafted – uniquely make – for purpose of bringing glory to God.

FACT:

I am here for THE GLORY OF GOD.

My purpose is to live a life that magnifies the Lord, to encourage and support fellow Christians, to become more like Christ, to use my gifts and talents in helping others, to tell those who don’t know Jesus that there is Good News. My purpose to bring glory to God in all I do and say. And when all is said and done I long to hear the words:

"Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord."

Matthew 25:21 (NKJV)

You have brought Me glory – you have enlarged the kingdom of God – you have done well. God’s gift of salvation to us is useful. It gives us meaning and value. Our purpose is to bring glory to God.

II. God’s gift to you is measured by its COST.

If you recall – last week I spoke about giving God our best. He doesn’t want our leftovers. He doesn’t want cheap stuff. He wants the best you and I can give Him. Remember I used this verse to make my point.

“I will not offer to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost [me] nothing.”

2 Samuel 24:24 (HCSB)

David said if he was going to give a sacrifice to the Lord he was going to give his best – something of value – something of worth. Why would David say that? Because that is God has done for us. He has given us the most precious gift He could possibly give – something of worth – something of value – something that is one in a kind. He gave us His son. Look at verse ten again.

"This is the kind of love we are talking about—not that we once upon a time loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice…"

God knew what had to be done. He knew what price had to be paid. He knew what it was going to cost Him and He sent the best for you and me. He sent Jesus Christ – born as a child for the salvation of the world. If He gave that much to me – what should I give Him?

FACT:

God’s gift to me is VALUABLE.

III. God’s present to you is measured by its EFFECTIVENESS.

If I get a toaster for Christmas I expect it to make toast. If I get a coffee machine I expect it to make coffee. If I get a hair curler I’ll save it for re-gifting. But the question that needs to be asked is: Is it effective. Does it do what it was intended to do?

What is the love of God intended to do? CHANGE YOU.

Look at these three verses again – to me they seem almost like a mathematical formula. 1+1=2. See how it all adds up. “God’s gift is useful PLUS God’s gift is valuable EQUALS we ought to love one another.

Verse eleven says this: “If God loved us like this, we certainly ought to love each other.”

“Ought” sounds like a suggestion - but it’s not. It’s not just some suggestion that God is making to us. The Greek word for “ought” could be translated “MUST”. The root word means actually means – to owe something. You owe a payment – you are under obligation – you must pay it back! Let me restate the last part of verse eleven again.