What’s the present tense of ’twas, as in “’twas the night before Christmas”? The present tense of ’twas is ’tis, as in ’tis the season to be jolly. But what is the season really for? Many people feel ‘tis the season to go into debt to buy toys and gifts you would not go into debt for the rest of the year. Others feel ‘tis the season to remember the poor in our communities. Others recite words they see on Christmas cards, ’tis the season for love, joy, and peace. These are the three words that I would like to focus on for the next three weeks. The first is love.

‘Tis the season for love. I often wonder how a perfect God can love me. How could He love me enough to send His only Son as a baby to be born in a stable. When we think of a parent’s love for their child, we know it isn’t perfect. We all wish we could do better and regret the times we failed. We know our parents loved us, but it wasn’t perfect. But the love God has for us and the way He demonstrates it is perfect. God is the originator of love, and He is perfect.

God, who knows the end from the beginning, also knows that we humans were headed for sure destruction if He did not intervene and send someone to save us. Because we sin, our punishment is death. But God, in His perfect love, sent His very own Son to die in our place. His Son, Jesus, took the punishment for us so that we could live eternally in heaven and bask in His love. It was the perfect solution because Jesus, being God and man, was the only person with the power to rise from the dead and, thus, claim victory over death.

‘Tis the season for love. At Christmas, Jesus began His earthly trek toward the cross, where He would offer eternal life as a gift to everyone who trusts in Him. We don’t work for it or pay for it. It is a gift. Receive it today, and you will be eternally grateful. Then, you will say with conviction, “‘Tis the season for love.”

“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!” (1 John 3:1 NIV)

“To all who received him (Jesus), to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God…” (John 1:12)