But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 5:8

Love is a word that can surely prompt an emotional response. At Christmas time we can experience love in both the feelings of intimacy or lack of love in the uncomfortable distance in a relationship. We can feel the warmth and sometimes even a certain coldness when love is found lacking.

But, Christmas is not about a sentimental feeling or the happy reunion of estranged family members. No, this is a time to recognize and celebrate God’s love – a plan set in motion to reconcile and redeem those who were still far away for “while we were still powerless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly” (Romans 5:6).

At the right time… I don’t understand all the particulars, but I can be assured that it wasn’t by chance that Christ was born on a certain day in a certain year in a little town called Bethlehem. That day marked the beginning of the end of separation between God and man.

This Christmas, there is no better time than right now to experience the sacrificial love of Christ or to remind someone else of God’s perfect plan to redeem us.