Carols Devotional: “Oh Holy Night, Part 4”

His law is love and His gospel is peace

Romans 13:8-10

One of the many things that was really hard for me to adjust to when I moved to the US was the use of the word “love”. In Spanish we have several words to describe the level of affection you have towards someone, amor (love) being the strongest one. You don’t say that you love something or someone unless its true profound love, in English apparently you only have one word, love. It amazed me how you could love fries, ice cream, your mom and God. I’m very careful about using the word Love, I do my best to only say it when I truly mean it and if I say it I do my best to live by it, true unconditional love.

The problem comes when God reminds me that I am not supposed to be selective about who I say I love to, he has called us to love everyone. I can’t say that I have mastered this, or that I am actually good at it but I’m working on it. I’m working on putting aside my judgments, my preconceptions, my own agenda, my unforgiveness and try to love everyone that crosses my path. It has opened my eyes to some incredible people, it has lifted a lot of weight off my shoulders and most importantly it has given me a new perspective on God’s love. He has no reason to love us, we have not done anything special or anything worthy of His love, and yet He loves us enough to send His only son to die for me and for you, even when we are doing things that don’t make him happy.

Who do you really love? Who are you holding your love from? How can you love better?

Camilo Quevedo