Love for Advent

      What is the hallmark of a Christian?  What one characteristic distinguishes believers in Christ from non-believers more than any other?  Francis Schaeffer wrote a book entitled "The Mark of a Christian," and in it he says the mark of a Christian is LOVE.  A chorus says,  "They'll know we're Christians by our LOVE."  The 13th chapter of I Corinthians tells us that there are three most important characteristics--faith, hope, and love--and summarizes those thoughts by saying,  "The greatest of these is LOVE."  The book of I John emphasizes over and over that Christians are to love others, and says if we don't we are not walking in the light of God's love.  The first commandment, according to Jesus, is to love God with all our heart, mind, and soul, and the second commandment is to love others as we love ourselves.  If we need a thermometer by which we can take our spiritual temperature, it is the measure of our love for God and for our fellow man.

      LOVE is not just a warm fuzzy feeling.  It expresses an attitude of really caring about others and wanting the best for them.  But LOVE is also an action verb, and there are a multitude of ways we can express our love for others.  Some of those ways are unique to the Christmas season, but people need our love and care all year long.

Father, love others through me with Your unselfish, all-seeing, all-caring love everyday of the year.  May that love be translated into active expressions of love.  Amen.