“Now these three remain: faith, hope, and love—but the greatest of these is love.” – 1 Corinthians 13:13, CSB
Over the last few weeks, we’ve been on a journey to rediscover the defining traits of the Advent season.
We’ve been reminded that hope is not naive but is actually a courageous way to combat pessimism, darkness, and fear.
We’ve been challenged to believe that peace is possible, not just in the absence of hardship but rather through the presence of Christ.
We’ve been called to pursue joy, not as an optional accessory but as something necessary for abundant living.
But now, as we walk these final steps toward Christmas, we arrive at the heart of it all. And we remember what Christmas, what Advent, what life is all about.
Jesus was born to bring us hope.
Jesus was born to be our peace.
Jesus was born to give us joy.
But Jesus was born because of love.
Love has always been the reason.
Love created the world: “Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness” (Genesis 1:26). Love saved the world: “For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son” (John 3:16). Love made the ultimate sacrifice: “But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). From creation to the cradle to the cross, love has been the motivation.
It’s a beautiful pattern throughout all history. One that says God loves his children with an unconditional, unending, unwavering sort of love.
But there’s a competing pattern throughout all history. One in which we believe the lie that the love of God is not enough for us.
Reading the Old Testament can be infuriating because we see how, time after time, the Israelites reject the love of God. God rescues them, provides for them, protects them, leads them, and loves them. But despite his faithfulness, they’re quick to forget. They worship idols. They grumble and complain. They give in to fear. They disobey his commands. At one point, they even desire to return to slavery rather than walk in the freedom God called them to.
And yet, while it’s easy to judge the Israelites, don’t we do the exact same thing? We live with a scarcity mindset and clenched fists, guarding our agendas, our money, our time, our families. We look for satisfaction in cheap, worldly versions of love rather than the love of our heavenly Father. We disobey God and then are surprised by the fallout.
Like the Israelites, we are quick to forget how deeply loved we are. Because if we actually believed that the love of Jesus was enough for us, wouldn’t our lives look different? More generous? More hopeful, peaceful, joyful? More free?
This final week of Advent invites us to really ponder that question. And it beckons us back to our first love by reminding us of one of the greatest acts of love humanity has ever seen. The birth, life, and death of our Savior demonstrate that God will stop at nothing to prove his love for his children. From a starry night in Bethlehem to a starless night over Calvary, profound acts of love bookended the life of Jesus.
Christmas is always the answer to our question, “Is love enough?”
Is love enough to fix my marriage? To heal friendship wounds? To restore broken relationships? Is love enough for me to forgive myself, to be patient with my children, to be generous with what I have? Is love enough to overcome all the evil in this world?
If we’re talking about human love, then no. Human love falls short. It cracks under pressure. It tires. But the love of God is always enough because God himself is enough. Love isn’t merely something God shows us; love is who he is. And because of that, there is no situation and no sin, no fear and no failure that his love cannot redeem. His love is enough to withstand the hardships of life. It is enough to steady us when everything around us shakes.
And while we will never be able to love perfectly, we can know that we are perfectly loved.
So, in these final sacred days of Advent, may we rest in that truth. May we know how deeply loved we are. May we cling to the promise that Love is coming back one day. And may that blessed reassurance be enough to sustain us through every moment of this life.
The greatest of these is love, indeed.