“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. You love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” John 13:34-35
The approach of the holidays often brings mixed feelings for many people. There is the joy of the celebrations, the worship of our new born King, and the expectation of a new year. These positive emotions are sometimes overwhelmed by other feelings, however.
The stress of planning and preparing for parties, battling crowds, and purchasing gifts can diminish the feelings of joy we experience. For some people, though, there is an even more powerful source of stress – our family. The first holidays after a loved one has died can bring up new feelings of grief and sorrow.
Then, for a variety of reasons, there are some family members we’d rather not have to deal with each holiday season. These are the people we secretly hope will decide not to visit us this year. Occasionally, our feelings about them are so strong we don’t even invite them to join us any longer.
Whether its grief or broken relationships, these powerful feelings can rob us of the joy we could be experiencing during the holidays. They draw our attention away from the real reason for the season, Jesus Christ. When our focus wanders from our Savior, we can easily become consumed by our negative emotions and become depressed or hopeless.
This is both ironic and tragic, since Christmas in particular is intended to remind us of the hope we have because Jesus came to earth to save us from our sins, to bring us back into God’s family, and to provide us the ability to fulfill the command He gave us above through the Holy Spirit.
As God’s family, our love for one another should be the hallmark of our faith. It should be a source of comfort and encouragement when our earthly families disappoint us. Unfortunately, personality differences, misunderstandings, and conflicts can get in the way of our loving one another in the manner which Christ commands. This is why our Lord emphasizes the need to be loving and forgiving.
In Matthew 6:14-15 Jesus says, “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.” In Luke 6:37-38 Jesus expands on this idea, “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven. Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full – pressed down, shaken together and to make room for more, running over, pouring into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.”
When we as members of God’s family practice these things in the wisdom and power of the Holy Spirit, we can fulfill Christ’s command to love one another as He has loved us. Though our earthly families may make the holidays more challenging, we should be able to turn to God’s family and receive the unconditional love and acceptance which God gives us to share generously with one another.
Let us resolve to love one another in God’s family with the love of Jesus our Savior and Lord, and may we pray for ourselves and each other that God will give us the desire, strength, and grace to do so for His glory, and so that others will see His love in us and come to faith in Him!
