0 Christmas tree covered in lights and snow at night

Our Eternal Hope this Advent Season – No Greater Love

December 21, 2024

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:16 (NIV)

There is perhaps no word in the English language more overused and misused than love. People often talk loosely of their love for food, media, software and even fictional characters. Social media has in some ways contributed to our overuse of the word by giving us the ability to not only like posts and media, but to love them. Even with real people we have relationships with, we can sometimes use the language of loving a person, when what we mean is, we really like something they have done or said, or how they carry themselves. Love can become a shorthand of sorts for communicating one’s appreciation, devaluing the true meaning and significance of the word.

Most of us come to understand that love, real love, is much less feeling and affection, and instead is choice. While feelings of attraction and affection in a romantic relationship are undeniable, even then, we must choose whether we will love the target of our affection. Whether considering a husbandโ€™s love for his wife or a motherโ€™s love for her child, love requires action, selfless action. Real love involves sacrifice. A willingness to put the needs of those we love before our own needs and desires. Without question, there is no greater illustration of love than God the Father giving us Jesus Christ, God the son, as the final atoning sacrifice for our sins.

The Ultimate Expression of Love

During this fourth week of advent, and throughout this Christmas season, we celebrate the gift of Jesus, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin. But as we celebrate Jesusโ€™ birth, may we do so without forgetting that Jesus was born to die for us. As the Gospel writer John reminds us, God the Father gave Jesus to live a perfect and blameless life and to suffer and die by crucifixion for no other reason than His love for us. He gave Jesus so that weโ€”sinful and completely undeserving men and womenโ€”could be reconciled with our holy and perfect God. There is no greater love than thisโ€”there never was, and never will be.

May the love of God the Father and God the Son fill and transform the hearts of men and women throughout this Christmas season, drawing each of us and Houghton University, closer and closer to Him.


Houghton University President Wayne Lewis sitting at his desk.

About the Author

A noted teacher, scholar and leader in higher education, government and P12 schools, Wayne D. Lewis, Jr. serves as the 6th President of Houghton University. He is recognized as being a champion for students and families. He writes, speaks and teaches on Christian leadership, organizational leadership and federal and state education policy.

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