If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. 1 John 4:15-16
“Love is an excellent thing, a very great blessing, indeed. It makes every difficulty easy, and bears all wrongs with equanimity. For it bears a burden without being weighted and renders sweet all that is bitter. The noble love of Jesus spurs to great deeds and excites longing for that which is more perfect.
Love tends upward; it will not be held down by anything low. Love wishes to be free and estranged from all worldly affections, lest its inward sight be obstructed, lest it be entangled in any temporal interest and overcome by adversity. Nothing is sweeter than love, nothing stronger or higher or wider; nothing is more pleasant, nothing fuller, and nothing better in heaven or on earth, for love is born of God and cannot rest except in God, Who is above all created things.
One who is in love flies, runs, and rejoices; he is free, not bound. He gives all for all and possesses all in all, because he rests in the one sovereign Good, Who is above all things, and from Whom every good flows and proceeds. He does not look to the gift but turns himself above all gifts to the Giver.
Love often knows no limits but overflows all bounds. Love feels no burden, thinks nothing of troubles, attempts more than it is able, and does not plead impossibility, because it believes that it may and can do all things. For this reason, it is able to do all, performing and effecting much where he who does not love fails and falls.”
Thomas à Kempis in “The Wonderful Effect of Divine Love” chapter 5 of The Imitation of Christ.
The Imitation of Christ is another one from the list in 25 Books Every Christian Should Read: A Guide to the Essential Spiritual Classics. Today Thomas proclaims the good news of the Love of Jesus which “spurs to great deeds and excites longing for that which is more perfect.”
If you want to grow in generosity this Christmas season, focus on the love of God. Love came down that first Christmas! Love did not send help. He came. He is the source of all that is good and the only thing that can free you from worldly affections which seek to captivate our hearts.
When Love consumes us, we can live, give, and serve generously because we know we have everything we need from the one from Whom all good flows. I pray you have a blessed Christmas focusing on the love of God. Nothing is sweeter. Nothing is better. It’s the best Christmas gift.