By Carianne Pritchett

Merry Christmas.

Whatever didn’t get done for today, that’s okay.

This day is not about perfectly executing the best day ever.

Instead, this day is about Jesus and turning our attention to Him.

Happy Birthday, Jesus.

Today is the day we traditionally celebrate the birth of our Savior. The birth of Jesus Christ.

Love came to us in the form of an innocent baby.

Let this really sink in.

The King of kings was born as a helpless babe needing the arms of another. Jesus needed the love of another. The irony – the physical manifestation of love needed love in order to grow and thrive.

If Jesus Christ, the Rock of the Ages, needed love, then we can know for sure that we need it too.

We need the same, attentive love.

You need this same, attentive love.

Jesus Christ came to give you this type of love.

A love that sees you where you are

and comforts you when you cry

A love that is patient when you get distracted

and is kind when you return to Him

A love that wants to share good things with you

and is never trying to boast about how much better He is than you.

A love that has opened his arms to you on the cross. And, as my friend says, “those arms never close.” Those arms are never crossed as if to say it’s too late for you to come home.

The love of Christ is pure and perfect and will never do you wrong.

Let me say that again, the love of Christ is pure and perfect and will never do you wrong.

Dane Ortlund says it this way in his book Gentle & Lowly:

“God didn’t meet us halfway. He refused to hold back, cautious, assessing our worth. That is not his heart. He and his Son took the initiative. On terms of grace and grace alone. In defiance of what we deserved.” (p. 191)

This type of love does not make Jesus weak. Instead, this type of love is the strongest love we could ever imagine. You see, the love of Christ can hold my burden and your burden and never grow tired. Even when we take our troubles and cares to Christ over and over and over again, Jesus is never thinking “here we go again.” Your friend might think that. Your loved one might think that. Even you might think that at times. But, Jesus. No. Jesus is still there, ready to listen. He might not want you to stay in that trouble or continue to be overwhelmed with that care. But He does not demand you figure it out without Him. And He doesn’t need you to figure it out for Him to love you. He loves you even with your troubles and cares.

This is the love of God.

And it is this love that goes the length for us. This love is slow to anger, intentional with its rebuke, and clear in its teaching.

Receiving this love from Jesus Christ is what helps us to grow and thrive.

I’d like to end with the story of Jesus washing His disciples feet.

John 13 says that Jesus and his disciples were in the upper room, eating a meal together in celebration of the Passover. And during this meal, verses 4 and 5 tell us that Jesus “got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.” The scripture continues by telling us that Peter did not want Jesus to wash his feet, because he did not think Jesus should waste his time with such a menial task that he or others could easily do.

I don’t know about you, but I’ve heard this story many times. And usually, the application lands somewhere on the continuum of serving others like Jesus. Let me be clear, this takeaway is a wonderful place to land. But I’d like for us to consider something else today.

How often do you think your troubles or cares waste Jesus’s time?

Do you allow Jesus to serve you?

Do you really understand how much Jesus loves serving you?

Can you, even if it’s a little awkward, sit still and receive the service of Christ. The disciples did not fully know what to make of Jesus’s symbolic act that evening. But, they allowed Him to serve them anyways.

Christ, the King of kings, wants to serve you too.

Jesus loves you.

Sit and receive His love.

You don’t have to do anything but let. Him. love. you.

To access an audio version of this reading and printable booklet with reflection questions, including the five other Advent readings written and recorded by the counselors at FLCC, visit www.fulllifecc.com/advent-readings-the-collection/